Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

होमो मूलफलाशित्वं स्वाध्यायस्तप एव च / संविभागो यथान्यायं धर्मो ऽयं वनवासिनाम्

Transliteration

homo mūlaphalāśitvaṃ svādhyāyastapa eva ca / saṃvibhāgo yathānyāyaṃ dharmo 'yaṃ vanavāsinām

Translation

ഹോമം, മൂല-ഫലാഹാരജീവനം, സ്വാധ്യായവും തപസ്സും; കൂടാതെ നിയമപ്രകാരം യഥോചിത വിഭജനം—ഇതാണ് വനവാസികളുടെ ധർമ്മം।

Word by Word

• होमः: oblation; fire-offering
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूल-फल-आशित्वम्: subsisting on roots and fruits
• मूल-फल-आशित्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशित्व (प्रातिपदिक; √अश् (धातु) + इत्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (मूलं च फलं च) इति द्वन्द्व + तदाशित्वम् (having as food)

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• संविभागः: sharing; distribution
• संविभागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संविभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to rule
• यथा-न्यायम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb) अर्थे ‘न्यायानुसारम्’

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वनवासिनाम्: of forest-dwellers
• वनवासिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on varnashrama-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Homa
• Svadhyaya
• Tapas
• Vanaprastha (forest-dweller)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames disciplined living (homa, svādhyāya, tapas, and righteous sharing) as purifying dharma, which traditionally prepares the mind for Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) taught elsewhere in the Purana’s higher instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory yogic disciplines—tapas (austerity), svādhyāya (sacred study/mantra-recitation), and regulated living—supporting inner steadiness that complements the Kurma Purana’s broader soteriology, including Shaiva-Vaishnava integrated practice.

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

By presenting a shared dharmic framework (austerity, study, sacrifice, and ethical distribution) rather than sectarian markers, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance where devotion and discipline serve the one Supreme approached through Shiva-Vishnu unity.