Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

काषायिणो ऽथ निर्ग्रन्थास्तथा कापालिकाश्च ये / वेदविक्रयिणश्चान्ये तीर्थविक्रयिणः परे

Transliteration

kāṣāyiṇo 'tha nirgranthāstathā kāpālikāśca ye / vedavikrayiṇaścānye tīrthavikrayiṇaḥ pare

Translation

അപ്പോൾ വെറും കാഷായവസ്ത്രധാരികൾ, ‘നിർഗ്രന്ഥർ’ എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നവർ, കൂടാതെ കപാലം ധരിക്കുന്ന കാപാലികരും ഉണ്ടാകും. ചിലർ വേദം വ്യാപാരം ചെയ്യും; ചിലർ തീർത്ഥം വിൽക്കും—പവിത്രധർമ്മത്തെയും കച്ചവടമാക്കും.

Word by Word

• kāṣāyiṇaḥ: wearers of ochre robes
• kāṣāyiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• atha: and then; also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: ‘then/also’)

• nirgranthāḥ: nirgranthas (sectarians/ascetics)
• nirgranthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirgrantha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• kāpālikāḥ: Kāpālikas
• kāpālikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāpālika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• veda-vikrayiṇaḥ: sellers of the Veda
• veda-vikrayiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrayin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vedasya vikrayiṇaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tīrtha-vikrayiṇaḥ: sellers of pilgrimage/holy places
• tīrtha-vikrayiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrayin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tīrthasya vikrayiṇaḥ)

• pare: others (further ones)
• pare: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a dharma-teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Veda
• Tirtha
• Kapalika
• Nirgrantha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it warns that external marks (robes, sect labels) are not proof of realization; true dharma aligns conduct with inner truth rather than commercializing the sacred.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; it establishes a prerequisite for yoga—ethical integrity (yama-like restraint) and non-exploitation of sacred knowledge and tīrthas.

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

By critiquing sectarian or performative ascetic identities (including kāpālika) without attacking devotion itself, the Purana emphasizes shared dharma across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths: sincerity over mere outward affiliation.