Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

ध्यायिनो निर्ममान् शान्तान् धार्मिकान् वेदपारगान् / जापिनस्तापसान् विप्रान् दूरतः परिवर्जय

Transliteration

dhyāyino nirmamān śāntān dhārmikān vedapāragān / jāpinastāpasān viprān dūrataḥ parivarjaya

Translation

ध्यानमग्न, निर्मम, शांत, धर्मनिष्ठ व वेदपारंगत ब्राह्मणांना—तसेच जप-तप करणाऱ्या विप्रांना—दूरच टाळ।

Word by Word

• ध्यायिनः: meditators
• ध्यायिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘meditators’ (पाठे ध्यायिनो इति रूपभेदः)

• निर्ममान्: free from ‘mine’-ness
• निर्ममान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि: + मम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; निः-उपसर्गपूर्वक ‘without possessiveness’

• शान्तान्: peaceful
• शान्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धार्मिकान्: righteous
• धार्मिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदपारगान्: those who have mastered the Veda
• वेदपारगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगाः)

• जापिनः: japa-practitioners
• जापिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘chanters (of japa)’ (पाठे जापिनस्ति रूपभेदः)

• तापसान्: ascetics
• तापसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दूरतः: from afar
• दूरतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परिवर्जय: avoid/shun
• परिवर्जय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narratorial/Didactic voice of the Purana (instructional dharma passage within Kurma Purana context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Vipra
• Japa
• Tapas
• Dhyana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it points to the inner path—dhyāna, japa, and tapas—by which seekers quiet possessiveness and attain śānti, the mental purity required for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Dhyāna (meditative absorption), japa (mantra repetition), and tapas (austerity). The verse stresses a supportive environment: do not interrupt advanced practitioners whose discipline sustains yogic steadiness.

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

Not by naming them, but by emphasizing shared yogic-dharmic values (tapas, japa, dhyāna) central to both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative, non-sectarian spiritual ethic.