Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 44

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव भूतानां वेदश्चक्षुः सनातनम् / अधीयीताप्ययं नित्यं ब्राह्मण्याच्च्यवते ऽन्यथा

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ vedaścakṣuḥ sanātanam / adhīyītāpyayaṃ nityaṃ brāhmaṇyāccyavate 'nyathā

Translation

ಸರ್ವ ಭೂತಗಳಿಗೆ ವೇದವೇ ಸನಾತನ ನೇತ್ರ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ನಿತ್ಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು; ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ (ನಿಜ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಿತಿ)ದಿಂದ ಚ್ಯುತಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक; √bhū (धातु) PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• vedaḥ: the Veda
• vedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cakṣuḥ: eye
• cakṣuḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sanātanam: eternal
• sanātanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of cakṣuḥ/vedaḥ

• adhīyīta: should study
• adhīyīta: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √adhī (धातु; अधि+√i)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): अपि (even/also)

• ayam: this (person)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): सर्वदा (always)

• brāhmaṇyāt: from brahminhood
• brāhmaṇyāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘from brāhmaṇya (brahminhood)’

• cyavate: falls away/deviates
• cyavate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cyu (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): अन्यथा (otherwise)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on Varnashrama Dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Brāhmaṇa (brahminhood)
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that true vision (cakṣuḥ) is scriptural—Veda-guided insight that reveals dharma and, by extension, the right understanding that leads toward Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is svādhyāya—daily study/recitation—treated as a foundational discipline that steadies conduct and supports higher yogic pursuits (including Pāśupata-oriented purification and devotion).

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

By grounding spiritual authority in the Veda, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths are validated when aligned with Vedic dharma and disciplined practice.