Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपं बुधाः / सत्त्वशुद्धिकरं पुंसां स्वाध्यायं परिचक्षते

Transliteration

vedāntaśatarudrīyapraṇavādijapaṃ budhāḥ / sattvaśuddhikaraṃ puṃsāṃ svādhyāyaṃ paricakṣate

Translation

വേദാന്തം, ശതരുദ്രീയം, പ്രണവം (ഓം) മുതലായവയുടെ ജപം—മനുഷ്യരുടെ സത്ത്വശുദ്ധി വരുത്തുന്ന ‘സ്വാധ്യായം’ എന്നു ജ്ഞാനികൾ പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपम्: japa of Vedānta, Śatarudrīya, Praṇava, etc.
• वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शतरुद्रीय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सूची-तत्पुरुष: 'वेदान्त-शतरुद्रीय-प्रणव-आदि (मन्त्र)-जपम्'

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरम्: causing purity of mind (sattva)
• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्वशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'सत्त्वशुद्धेः करम्' qualifying 'स्वाध्यायम्'

• पुंसाम्: of men/of people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), बहुवचन

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study/recitation
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• परिचक्षते: they describe/call
• परिचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vedanta
• Śatarudrīya
• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Rudra (Shiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By defining svādhyāya as Vedānta-recitation, the verse points toward Upaniṣadic self-knowledge: inner purification (sattva-śuddhi) is presented as the necessary ground for realizing the Self taught by Vedānta.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-japa and scriptural recitation—especially Oṁ (praṇava) and the Śatarudrīya—as practical disciplines that cleanse the mind’s sattva, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita emphasis on inner purity as a prerequisite for Yoga and devotion.

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

Spoken in a Vishnu-centered discourse yet recommending the Śatarudrīya hymn to Rudra, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: devotion and study may honor Rudra and Praṇava within a unified path to purification and realization.