Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

श्रावणेनैव विधिना वह्निं परिचरेत् सदा / न द्रुह्येत् सर्वभूतानि निर्द्वन्द्वो निर्भयो भवेत्

Transliteration

śrāvaṇenaiva vidhinā vahniṃ paricaret sadā / na druhyet sarvabhūtāni nirdvandvo nirbhayo bhavet

Translation

聖なる聴聞（śravaṇa）によって定められたその修法のままに、常に祭火に仕えよ。いかなる生きものにも怨みを抱くな。対なる二辺を離れたとき、人は無畏となる。

Word by Word

• श्रावणेन: by the Śrāvaṇa (observance/month)
• श्रावणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by/with (the rite of) Śrāvaṇa’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (only/indeed)

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘according to rule’

• वह्निम्: fire (sacred fire)
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object

• परिचरेत्: should tend/serve
• परिचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should attend/serve’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• द्रुह्येत्: should harm/bear malice
• द्रुह्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रुह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should be hostile/should harm’ (negated)

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि भूतानि) object of द्रुह्येत्

• निर्द्वन्द्वः: free from pairs of opposites
• निर्द्वन्द्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• भवेत्: should be/become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should become/be’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in dharma and sādhana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Sarvabhūta (all beings)
• Śravaṇa (scriptural hearing)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It points to inner stability as the mark of spiritual realization: when one becomes nirdvandva (beyond opposites) and non-hostile to all beings, fear falls away—signaling establishment in the Self that is untouched by changing conditions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse links śravaṇa (disciplined listening to sacred teaching) with steady practice and purity of conduct: tending Agni as regulated sādhanā, combined with ahiṃsā (non-malice) and nirdvandvatā (equanimity), which are core supports for Pāśupata-leaning yogic transformation.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By emphasizing both outer ritual discipline (Agni service) and inner yogic virtues (equanimity, fearlessness, non-harming), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where devotion and discipline align with yogic realization—an approach shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams rather than set in opposition.