Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

योगाभ्यासरतश्च स्याद् रुद्राध्यायी भवेत् सदा / अथर्वशिरसो ऽध्येता वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः

Transliteration

yogābhyāsarataśca syād rudrādhyāyī bhavet sadā / atharvaśiraso 'dhyetā vedāntābhyāsatatparaḥ

Translation

അവൻ യോഗാഭ്യാസത്തിൽ നിരതനായി, സദാ രുദ്രന്റെ ജപ-ധ്യാനത്തിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കണം. അവൻ അഥർവശിരസ് ഉപനിഷത്ത് പഠിച്ച്, വേദാന്തത്തിന്റെ നിരന്തര അഭ്യാസത്തിൽ തത്പരനായി നിലകൊള്ളണം.

Word by Word

• योगाभ्यासरतः: one devoted to yoga-practice
• योगाभ्यासरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग-अभ्यास-रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—योगस्य अभ्यासे रतः (locative-relation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रुद्राध्यायी: a reciter/student of (hymns to) Rudra
• रुद्राध्यायी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र-अध्यायी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रुद्रं अध्येति/अध्यायं करोति इति

• भवेत्: should become/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अथर्वशिरसः: of the Atharvaśiras (Upaniṣad/text)
• अथर्वशिरसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अध्येता: a student/reciter
• अध्येता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) + तृच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः: intent on Vedānta practice
• वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त-अभ्यास-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वेदान्तस्य अभ्यासे तत्परः (devoted to practice of Vedānta)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Atharvaśiras
• Vedānta
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing Vedānta-abhyāsa alongside disciplined Yoga, the verse points to Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) as the culminating insight—realized through steady practice and contemplative study rather than mere ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes yogābhyāsa (regular yogic discipline) together with Rudra-adhyāyana—recitation and contemplative absorption in Rudra-mantras/teachings—forming a Pāśupata-leaning sādhana integrated with Vedāntic inquiry.

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

Viṣṇu (as Lord Kūrma) enjoins Rudra-upāsanā and Upaniṣadic Vedānta, reflecting the Purāṇa’s synthesis: devotion to Rudra and realization through Vedānta are affirmed within a Vaiṣṇava voice, indicating doctrinal harmony rather than sectarian opposition.