Shloka 7

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

Devanagari script

अन्यथा विविधैर्यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा वनमथाक्षयेत् / तपस्तप्त्वा तपोयोगाद् विरक्तः संन्यसेद् यदि

Transliteration

anyathā vividhairyajñairiṣṭvā vanamathākṣayet / tapastaptvā tapoyogād viraktaḥ saṃnyased yadi

Translation

അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വിവിധ യജ്ഞങ്ങൾ വിധിപൂർവ്വം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് പിന്നെ വനത്തിൽ ആശ്രയിക്കണം. തപോയോഗത്തിന്റെ ശാസനയാൽ തപസ്സു ചെയ്ത് വൈരാഗ്യം ഉദിച്ചാൽ, സന്ന്യാസം സ്വീകരിച്ച് പ്രവ്രജ്യ ചെയ്യാം.

Word by Word

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• vividhaiḥ: with various
• vividhaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• yajñaiḥ: by sacrifices
• yajñaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• iṣṭvā: having performed (sacrificed)
• iṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• vanam: the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and then)

• ākṣayet: should go/should proceed (to)
• ākṣayet: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kṣi (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• taptvā: having practiced (austerity)
• taptvā: Kriya (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• tapo-yogāt: from the discipline of austerity
• tapo-yogāt: Apadana (अपादान/Source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: तपसः योगः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• viraktaḥ: detached
• viraktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√raj (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण

• saṃnyaset: should renounce
• saṃnyaset: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√nyas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and the āśrama progression

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Yajña
• Vana (forest-dwelling)
• Tapas
• Tapo-yoga
• Sannyāsa
• Vairāgya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that realization matures through purification: ritual action (yajña) and austerity (tapas) culminate in vairāgya, enabling renunciation—an inner turning toward the Self beyond worldly aims.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tapo-yoga—ascetic discipline that concentrates the mind, purifies intention, and generates detachment (virakti), preparing one for sannyāsa as a liberation-oriented way of life.

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

While Vishnu as Lord Kūrma teaches the āśrama path, the emphasis on tapo-yoga and renunciation aligns with Shaiva ascetic ideals, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis of Vaishnava instruction with Shaiva yogic orientation.