Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Kali-yuga Dharma, and the Prohibition of Śiva-Nindā

Hari–Hara Samanvaya

Devanagari script

येर्ऽचयिष्यन्तिमां भक्त्या नित्यं कलियुगे द्विजाः / विधाना वेददृष्टेन ते गमिष्यन्ति तत् पदम्

Transliteration

yer'cayiṣyantimāṃ bhaktyā nityaṃ kaliyuge dvijāḥ / vidhānā vedadṛṣṭena te gamiṣyanti tat padam

Translation

കലിയുഗത്തിൽ ദ്വിജന്മാർ നിത്യം ഭക്തിയോടെ എന്നെ ആരാധിച്ച്, വേദത്തിൽ കാണുന്ന വിധിപ്രകാരം കർമ്മങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചാൽ, അവർ ആ പരമപദം പ്രാപിക്കും।

Word by Word

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

• arcayiṣyanti: will worship
• arcayiṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु) [णिच् causative: अर्चयति]
• Form: लृट्-लकार (future), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• kali-yuge: in the Kali age
• kali-yuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kaleḥ yuge)

• dvijāḥ: Brahmins (twice-born)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• vidhānāḥ: (as) performers according to rule
• vidhānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; (अर्थे) विधिवत् आचरन्तः/विधानानुसारिणः

• veda-dṛṣṭena: by what is prescribed in the Veda
• veda-dṛṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭa (√dṛś, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vedena dṛṣṭa = seen/ordained by the Veda)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• gamiṣyanti: will go/attain
• gamiṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (future), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the sages (contextual instruction on dharma in Kali Yuga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• Veda
• Kali Yuga
• Dvija

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as a realizable “padam” (highest state/abode) attainable through steady devotion aligned with Vedic discipline—implying a transcendent goal that devotion and right practice can lead one to realize.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti supported by vidhi (scripturally grounded discipline). In Kurma Purana’s broader yogic framework, this corresponds to regulated worship (niyama-like steadiness) that purifies the mind and supports higher contemplative practice.

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

While Viṣṇu speaks as the worship-worthy Lord here, the Kurma Purana’s overall synthesis treats Vedic, rule-based devotion as a shared dharmic path across sectarian forms—supporting the text’s non-hostile Shaiva–Vaishnava unity in practice and goal.