Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

चीरवासा भवेन्नित्यं स्नायात् त्रिषवणं शुचिः / सर्वभूतानुकम्पी स्यात् प्रतिग्रहविवर्जितः

Transliteration

cīravāsā bhavennityaṃ snāyāt triṣavaṇaṃ śuciḥ / sarvabhūtānukampī syāt pratigrahavivarjitaḥ

Translation

അവൻ നിത്യം ലളിതമായ ചീരം/വസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ച്, ശുചിയായി ത്രിസവണം സ്നാനം ചെയ്യണം. സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളോടും കരുണ പുലർത്തി, ബന്ധനകരമായ പ്രതിഗ്രഹം (ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കൽ) ഒഴിവാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• चीर-वासा: one wearing bark-garments
• चीर-वासा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस्/वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (चीरं वासो यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रि-षवणम्: thrice daily (at the three savanas)
• त्रि-षवणम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + षवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (त्रिषवणम् = त्रिषु सवनेषु/त्रिकालम्); क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-भूत-अनुकम्पी: compassionate to all beings
• सर्व-भूत-अनुकम्पी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकम्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां भूतानां अनुकम्पी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रतिग्रह-विवर्जितः: free from accepting gifts
• प्रतिग्रह-विवर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + वि + वर्जित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; वर्जित (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle) = 'avoided'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages on dharma and yogic discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Pashupata Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that purity, compassion, and non-attachment (including refusing binding gifts) are prerequisites for steady contemplation of the Self; ethical restraint stabilizes the mind for ātma-jñāna.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Foundational sādhana: triṣavaṇa-snāna (ritual and inner purification at dawn/noon/dusk), śauca, aparigraha-like non-acceptance (pratigraha-vivarjana), and universal compassion—core restraints that support Pāśupata-leaning yogic discipline in the Kūrma Purāṇa.

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

By presenting a shared ascetic-ethical code (śauca, tapas, compassion, non-attachment) that underlies both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths; the Purāṇa frames these virtues as universally dharmic rather than sectarian.