Shloka 140

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

प्रशान्तः संयतमना भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः / ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नग्नो व्रतं पाशुपतं चरेत्

Transliteration

praśāntaḥ saṃyatamanā bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ / brahmacaryarato nagno vrataṃ pāśupataṃ caret

Translation

ಪ್ರಶಾಂತನಾಗಿ, ಸಂಯತಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ, ದೇಹಕ್ಕೆ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಭಸ್ಮ ಲೇಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು; ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರತನಾಗಿ, ನಗ್ನ—ಅಂದರೆ ಆಸಕ್ತಿರಹಿತ—ನಾಗಿ ಪಾಶುಪತ ವ್ರತವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• प्रशान्तः: calm
• प्रशान्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śam)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (well-pacified)

• संयतमना: one whose mind is restrained
• संयतमना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yam) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (saṃyataṃ manaḥ yasya = whose mind is controlled)

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहः: whose body is smeared with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhūlita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dhūl/√dhū) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (bhasmanā uddhūlitaḥ vigraho yasya = whose body is dusted/smeared with ash)

• ब्रह्मचर्यरतः: devoted to celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यरतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmacarya (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (brahmacarye rataḥ = devoted to celibacy)

• नग्नः: naked
• नग्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (of Paśupati)
• पाशुपतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (Śiva-related, Pāśupata)

• चरेत्: should practice/undertake
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on Śaiva Pāśupata-yoga within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Pāśupata Vrata
• Paśupati (Śiva)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Brahmacarya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing tranquility and strict mind-restraint, the verse points to inner purification as the means to recognize the Self beyond bodily identity; the external marks (ash, nakedness) support detachment, but the core is mastery of mind leading toward realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes Pāśupata-yoga through (1) praśānti (inner calm), (2) saṃyama (restraint of mind), (3) bhasma-dhāraṇa (ash as a reminder of impermanence and Śiva-bhakti), and (4) brahmacarya with renunciant simplicity (nagna) to reduce distractions and strengthen tapas.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching a Śaiva Pāśupata observance, the Purāṇa presents a non-sectarian unity: devotion to Paśupati is compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation, framing Śiva-worship as a valid path within the same supreme dharma.