Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9
Virocana–Bali, Aditi’s Tapas, and the Vāmana–Trivikrama Episode
इत्युक्तो ऽसुरराजस्तं पुनः प्राह महामुनिम् / धर्माणां परमं धर्मं ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मवित्तम
ityukto 'surarājastaṃ punaḥ prāha mahāmunim / dharmāṇāṃ paramaṃ dharmaṃ brūhi me brahmavittama
ഇങ്ങനെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തപ്പോൾ അസുരരാജൻ വീണ്ടും മഹാമുനിയോട് പറഞ്ഞു— “ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മവിദ്വരാ! ധർമ്മങ്ങളിൽ പരമധർമ്മം, സർവ്വധർമ്മങ്ങളിലുമുള്ള ശ്രേഷ്ഠ തത്ത്വം എനിക്ക് അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുക।”
Asura King (Asurarāja)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames the inquiry in Brahma-vidyā: the “highest Dharma” is to be known from a brahma-vit (knower of Brahman), implying that supreme duty culminates in realization of Brahman/Ātman rather than mere ritual or social obligation.
This verse is a gateway question rather than a practice-list: it signals a turn from general dharmas to the highest path typically taught in the Kurma tradition as inner discipline—yoga, self-restraint, and knowledge-oriented devotion—often articulated through Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā in later instruction.
By asking for “parama dharma” from a Brahman-knower, it sets the non-sectarian frame typical of the Kūrma Purāṇa: the supreme teaching is grounded in Brahman-realization, within which Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths are presented as convergent when directed to the one Highest Reality.