Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

अवाच्यो दीक्षितो नाम्ना यवीयानपि यो भवेत् / भोभवत्पूर्वकं त्वेनमभिभाषेत धर्मवित्

Transliteration

avācyo dīkṣito nāmnā yavīyānapi yo bhavet / bhobhavatpūrvakaṃ tvenamabhibhāṣeta dharmavit

Translation

ଦୀକ୍ଷାପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି କନିଷ୍ଠ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ନାମେ ଡାକିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ। ଧର୍ମବିଦ୍ ତାଙ୍କୁ “ଭୋ”, “ଭବତ୍” ଆଦି ସମ୍ମାନବଚନରେ ଆଦରେ କହିବେ।

Word by Word

• अवाच्यः: not to be addressed (by name)
• अवाच्यः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाच्य (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक-तव्य/य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive potential) — ‘not to be addressed/called’

• दीक्षितः: an initiated person
• दीक्षितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षित (कृदन्त; √दिक्ष्/√दीक्ष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) — ‘initiated’

• नाम्ना: by (his) name
• नाम्ना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• यवीयान्: younger
• यवीयान्: विशेषण (qualifier of ‘यः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भवेत्: may be/is to be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भोः: O!/hey
• भोः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भोः (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle/interjection)

• भवत्-पूर्वकम्: with ‘bhavat’ as a prefix (in address)
• भवत्-पूर्वकम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial qualifier of speech)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भवत् + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूर्वपद-निर्देश) — ‘preceded by “bhavat”’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/contrast particle)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अभिभाषेत: should address/speak to
• अभिभाषेत: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धर्मवित्: a knower of dharma
• धर्मवित्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः — ‘knower of dharma’

Speaker

Traditional narration within Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching frame (instructional voice attributed to the Purāṇic teacher, ultimately grounded in Lord Kūrma’s authoritative discourse).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dīkṣita (initiated person)
• Dharma (normative conduct)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it establishes dhārmic speech and respect toward the initiated, supporting purity of conduct (sadācāra) that traditionally prepares one for higher spiritual knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is taught here; the verse emphasizes dīkṣā-maryādā (discipline after initiation). In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such restraint in speech is treated as an auxiliary observance that supports yogic steadiness and ritual purity.

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

The verse is primarily about dharma and etiquette rather than theology; indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s integrative spirit by honoring initiation (dīkṣā) as sacred across traditions, a shared value within Shaiva-Vaishnava practice frameworks.