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Shloka 39

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

ततः स्थितेषु वर्णेषु स्थापयामास चाश्रमान् / गृहस्थं च वनस्थं च भिक्षुकं ब्रह्मचारिणम्

tataḥ sthiteṣu varṇeṣu sthāpayāmāsa cāśramān / gṛhasthaṃ ca vanasthaṃ ca bhikṣukaṃ brahmacāriṇam

പിന്നീട് വർണങ്ങൾ സ്ഥിരമായപ്പോൾ, അദ്ദേഹം ആശ്രമങ്ങളെയും സ്ഥാപിച്ചു—ഗൃഹസ്ഥൻ, വനസ്ഥൻ (വാനപ്രസ്ഥൻ), ഭിക്ഷുകൻ (സന്ന്യാസി), ബ്രഹ്മചാരി.

tataḥthen, thereafter
tataḥ:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Temporal)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottataḥ (अव्यय; tad + tas)
FormTasil-anta avyaya (adverb): ‘then/thereafter’
sthiteṣuwhen (they were) established
sthiteṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
TypeAdjective
Rootsthita (कृदन्त; from sthā धातु) used adjectivally
FormKta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative, 7th), Bahuvacana; agrees with 'varṇeṣu'
varṇeṣuin the varṇas (social classes)
varṇeṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana
sthāpayāmāsahe established, set up
sthāpayāmāsa:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√sthā (धातु) causative sthāpaya + as (aux in periphrastic perfect)
FormLiṭ (Periphrastic Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; causative sense
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)
āśramānāśramas (stages of life)
āśramān:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootāśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana
gṛhasthamhouseholder
gṛhastham:
Karma (कर्म/Object) (member of list)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; in apposition/list with other āśramas
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)
vanasthamforest-dweller (vānaprastha)
vanastham:
Karma (कर्म/Object) (member of list)
TypeNoun
Rootvanastha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)
bhikṣukammendicant, beggar (renunciate)
bhikṣukam:
Karma (कर्म/Object) (member of list)
TypeNoun
Rootbhikṣuka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
brahmacāriṇamcelibate student
brahmacāriṇam:
Karma (कर्म/Object) (member of list)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Sūta (narrator) recounting the cosmic/social ordering attributed to the Lord

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

V
Varna
A
Ashrama
G
Grihastha
V
Vanastha
B
Bhikshuka
B
Brahmacharin

FAQs

Indirectly: by laying down varṇa–āśrama as a dharmic framework, the text implies that inner realization (ātma-jñāna) is supported by disciplined living—purifying conduct so knowledge and devotion can mature.

No specific technique is named; the verse sets the prerequisite structure for sādhanā. Brahmacarya supports study and restraint, vānaprastha supports austerity and withdrawal, and bhikṣuka (saṃnyāsa) supports single-pointed contemplation—often the setting in which higher Yoga is pursued in the Kurma Purana’s later teachings.

It presents dharma as a unified, supra-sectarian order established by the Lord for liberation. In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, this shared dharma-ground becomes the common path on which both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva/Pāśupata-oriented renunciation can culminate in the same highest truth.