Shloka 32
त्यक्त्वा तपोबलं कृत्स्नं गच्छध्वं नरकान् पुनः / भविष्यति हृषीकेशः स्वाश्रितो ऽपि पराङ्मुखः
tyaktvā tapobalaṃ kṛtsnaṃ gacchadhvaṃ narakān punaḥ / bhaviṣyati hṛṣīkeśaḥ svāśrito 'pi parāṅmukhaḥ
സകല തപോബലവും ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് നിങ്ങൾ വീണ്ടും നരകങ്ങളിലേക്കു പോകും; നിങ്ങൾ ആശ്രയമെന്നു പറയുന്ന ഹൃഷീകേശനും നിങ്ങളോടു മുഖം തിരിക്കും।
A senior sage/teacher admonishing an audience (plural) within the Purva-bhaga narrative frame
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It implies that spiritual power (tapo-bala) is not merely accumulated merit but must be aligned with steadfast dharma and inner orientation toward the Lord; when one turns outward (parāṅmukha), the inner refuge is effectively lost, and the person falls back into lower states of experience.
The verse points to tapas and indriya-saṃyama (sense-governance) under Hṛṣīkeśa—suggesting that austerity without sustained ethical discipline and devotion can collapse, leading to karmic regression rather than yogic ascent.
By emphasizing Hṛṣīkeśa as the inner Lord who governs the senses, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: true yoga and dharma are validated by inner orientation to Īśvara—whether expressed through Vaiṣṇava devotion or Śaiva-Pāśupata discipline—rather than sectarian identity alone.