Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 140

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

प्रशान्तः संयतमना भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः / ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नग्नो व्रतं पाशुपतं चरेत्

Transliteration

praśāntaḥ saṃyatamanā bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ / brahmacaryarato nagno vrataṃ pāśupataṃ caret

Translation

ਸ਼ਾਂਤ ਤੇ ਸੰਯਤ ਮਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਦੇਹ ਉੱਤੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਭਸਮ ਲਗਾਏ। ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਰਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਤ, ਨਗਨ—ਅਰਥਾਤ ਆਸਕਤੀ ਰਹਿਤ—ਹੋ ਕੇ ਪਾਸ਼ੁਪਤ ਵਰਤ ਦਾ ਆਚਰਨ ਕਰੇ।

Word by Word

• प्रशान्तः: calm
• प्रशान्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śam)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (well-pacified)

• संयतमना: one whose mind is restrained
• संयतमना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yam) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (saṃyataṃ manaḥ yasya = whose mind is controlled)

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहः: whose body is smeared with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhūlita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dhūl/√dhū) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (bhasmanā uddhūlitaḥ vigraho yasya = whose body is dusted/smeared with ash)

• ब्रह्मचर्यरतः: devoted to celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यरतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmacarya (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (brahmacarye rataḥ = devoted to celibacy)

• नग्नः: naked
• नग्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (of Paśupati)
• पाशुपतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (Śiva-related, Pāśupata)

• चरेत्: should practice/undertake
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on Śaiva Pāśupata-yoga within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Pāśupata Vrata
• Paśupati (Śiva)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Brahmacarya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing tranquility and strict mind-restraint, the verse points to inner purification as the means to recognize the Self beyond bodily identity; the external marks (ash, nakedness) support detachment, but the core is mastery of mind leading toward realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes Pāśupata-yoga through (1) praśānti (inner calm), (2) saṃyama (restraint of mind), (3) bhasma-dhāraṇa (ash as a reminder of impermanence and Śiva-bhakti), and (4) brahmacarya with renunciant simplicity (nagna) to reduce distractions and strengthen tapas.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching a Śaiva Pāśupata observance, the Purāṇa presents a non-sectarian unity: devotion to Paśupati is compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation, framing Śiva-worship as a valid path within the same supreme dharma.