Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो गुरुवर्गो ऽयं मातृतः पितृतो द्विजाः / अनुवर्तनमेतेषां मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः

Transliteration

ityukto guruvargo 'yaṃ mātṛtaḥ pitṛto dvijāḥ / anuvartanameteṣāṃ manovākkāyakarmabhiḥ

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജാ! മാതൃപക്ഷത്തിലും പിതൃപക്ഷത്തിലും ഉള്ള ഈ സമസ്ത പൂജ്യ ഗുരുവർഗ്ഗം പ്രസ്താവിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു; മനസ്സ്, വാക്ക്, കായകർമ്മങ്ങൾകൊണ്ട് അവരെ അനുഗമിച്ച് സേവിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/thus)

• uktaḥ: said/declared
• uktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'said/declared'

• guru-vargaḥ: group of elders/teachers
• guru-vargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'गुरूणां वर्गः'

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mātṛtaḥ: from the maternal side
• mātṛtaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from the mother's side'

• pitṛtaḥ: from the paternal side
• pitṛtaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from the father's side'

• dvijāḥ: O twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijāḥ: Sambodhana/Adhikartā (सम्बोधन/अधिकर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• anuvartanam: obedient following/service
• anuvartanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuvartanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (obedient following/service)

• eteṣām: of these (persons)
• eteṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kāyena: by body
• kāyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• karmabhiḥ: by actions/deeds
• karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna (dharma discourse context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Guruvarga
• Pitṛ-side elders
• Mātṛ-side elders

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, by prescribing purity and discipline of mind, speech, and body; such integrated conduct is treated in the Purana as a prerequisite for inner clarity through which Atman-realization becomes possible.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes ethical integration—governing manas (mind), vāk (speech), and kāya (body)—a foundational yogic discipline akin to yama/niyama, supporting later contemplative practice and Shaiva-Vaishnava sādhanā in the Kurma Purana.

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

By focusing on dharma as a shared spiritual foundation: reverence, service, and self-restraint are upheld as universal virtues that undergird both Shaiva (including Pāśupata-oriented) and Vaishnava paths in the Kurma Purana’s synthetic vision.