Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

पुष्पमूलफलैर्वापि केवलैर्वर्तयेत् सदा / स्वाभाविकैः स्वयं शीर्णैर्वैखानसमते स्थितः

Transliteration

puṣpamūlaphalairvāpi kevalairvartayet sadā / svābhāvikaiḥ svayaṃ śīrṇairvaikhānasamate sthitaḥ

Translation

വൈഖാനസ ശാസനയിൽ നിലകൊണ്ട്, അവൻ എപ്പോഴും പുഷ്പം‑മൂലം‑ഫലം മാത്രമാക്കി ജീവിക്കണം—സ്വാഭാവികമായി ലഭിച്ച് സ്വയം വീണതേ സ്വീകരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• पुष्प-मूल-फलैः: with flowers, roots, and fruits
• पुष्प-मूल-फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: 'also/even')

• केवलैः: only, merely (with just those)
• केवलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the means)

• वर्तयेत्: should subsist/maintain oneself
• वर्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्/वर्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense in usage: 'should maintain/should subsist'

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• स्वाभाविकैः: natural, spontaneous
• स्वाभाविकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाभाविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying items/means)

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः (indeclinable: 'oneself/by oneself')

• शीर्णैः: fallen/decayed (naturally fallen)
• शीर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीर्ण (कृदन्त; √शॄ/शॄण् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वैखानस-मते: in the Vaikhānasa discipline/observance
• वैखानस-मते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैखानस (प्रातिपदिक) + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vaikhānasa-sya mataṃ)

• स्थितः: remaining/abiding
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active/PPP in sense), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे 'being/remaining'

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic instruction to the aspirant within the Vaikhānasa/vanaprastha context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vaikhānasa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing restraint, non-appropriation, and simplicity, the verse supports inner purification—an essential prerequisite for steady contemplation of the Self beyond bodily cravings and possessiveness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes yama-like disciplines—especially aparigraha (non-possessiveness) and ahiṃsā (non-harming)—through a forest-dweller’s diet of naturally fallen, minimally taken foods, which stabilizes the mind for japa, dhyāna, and tapas.

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

While not naming either deity directly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ethic: disciplined conduct and tapas are common gateways to realizing the one Lord (Īśvara) taught across both traditions.