Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

सर्वं वा विचरेद् ग्रामं पूर्वोक्तानामसंभवे / नियम्य प्रयतो वाचं दिशस्त्वनवलोकयन्

Transliteration

sarvaṃ vā vicared grāmaṃ pūrvoktānāmasaṃbhave / niyamya prayato vācaṃ diśastvanavalokayan

Translation

മുൻപ് പറഞ്ഞ മാർഗങ്ങൾ ലഭ്യമല്ലെങ്കിൽ, സംയമത്തോടെ മുഴുവൻ ഗ്രാമവും സഞ്ചരിക്കാം. വാക്ക് നിയന്ത്രിച്ച്, ദിക്കുകളിലേക്കു ചുറ്റിനോക്കാതെ ഇരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• sarvam: entire
• sarvam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.) ‘grāmam’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• vicaret: should go about
• vicaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—परिभ्रमेत् (should wander)

• grāmam: village
• grāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• pūrvoktānām: of the previously mentioned (options)
• pūrvoktānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva-ukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (“previously mentioned”); पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/सामान्य, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• asaṃbhave: when not possible
• asaṃbhave: Nimitta-adhikaraṇa (निमित्त-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (sg.); नञ्-युक्त (“in the non-occurrence/impossibility”)

• niyamya: having restrained
• niyamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-yam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive: “having restrained”)

• prayataḥ: disciplined
• prayataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• vācam: speech
• vācam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• anavalokayan: not looking (around)
• anavalokayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: an-ava-lok (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि—“not looking (at)”

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-yoga discipline as taught in the Kurma Purana’s transmission)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing restraint of speech and wandering without sensory distraction, the verse points to inwardness: the seeker reduces outward scattering so awareness can rest in the inner Self rather than in external objects.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights pratyāhāra-like sense-withdrawal and ethical discipline—controlling speech (vāg-niyama) and curbing restless looking around—foundational practices that support steadiness for higher yoga in the Kurma Purana’s shaiva-vaishnava synthesis.

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

Though not naming either deity, the teaching reflects the shared yogic ethic honored in both Shaiva (Pāśupata-oriented) and Vaishnava streams in the Kurma Purana: self-restraint and inward focus as common ground for realizing the one Supreme.