Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

कर्मणा प्राप्यते धर्मो ज्ञानेन च न संशयः / तस्माज्ज्ञानेन सहितं कर्मयोगं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

karmaṇā prāpyate dharmo jñānena ca na saṃśayaḥ / tasmājjñānena sahitaṃ karmayogaṃ samācaret

Translation

കർമ്മത്തിലൂടെ ധർമ്മം ലഭിക്കുന്നു; ജ്ഞാനത്തിലൂടെയും—ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല. അതിനാൽ സത്യജ്ഞാനത്തോടുകൂടിയ കർമയോഗം സ്ഥിരമായി ആചരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• प्राप्यते: is attained
• प्राप्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ज्ञानेन: by knowledge
• ज्ञानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय; negation particle

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; Ablative singular (from that/therefore)

• ज्ञानेन: with knowledge / by knowledge
• ज्ञानेन: Sahakārī-karaṇa (सहकारी-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• सहितम्: accompanied (by)
• सहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग) + इ (धातु) → सहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agreeing with कर्मयोगम्

• कर्मयोगम्: the yoga of action
• कर्मयोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्मणः योगः/कर्मयोगः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• समाचरेत्: should practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita discourse context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Jnana
• Karma Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that realization is not opposed to duty: knowledge (jñāna) is a valid means to dharma and inner clarity, and when action is performed in the light of knowledge, it becomes a purifying path aligned with the Self rather than ego-driven karma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights Karma-yoga—performing prescribed actions as disciplined worship—explicitly joined with jñāna (right understanding). In the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita spirit, this supports a Pashupata-style orientation where practice is both ethical (dharma) and contemplative (insight).

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

While not naming Shiva directly, the teaching reflects the Purana’s synthesis: the same supreme principle is approached through integrated discipline—knowledge and action—consistent with both Shaiva (yoga/gnosis) and Vaishnava (devotional duty) frameworks rather than sectarian opposition.