Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 64

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

न संहताभ्यां पाणिभ्यां कण्डूयेदात्मनः शिरः / न लौकिकैः स्तवैर्देवांस्तोषयेद् बाह्यजैरपि

Transliteration

na saṃhatābhyāṃ pāṇibhyāṃ kaṇḍūyedātmanaḥ śiraḥ / na laukikaiḥ stavairdevāṃstoṣayed bāhyajairapi

Translation

Não se deve coçar a própria cabeça com as duas palmas unidas; nem tentar agradar aos deuses com louvores mundanos ou com atos meramente externos.

Word by Word

• na: not / should not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• saṃhatābhyām: with (both) joined
• saṃhatābhyām: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃhata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; सम्+हन् → संहत)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), द्विवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे रूपसाम्यं; विशेषणम् (with joined)

• pāṇibhyām: with (both) hands
• pāṇibhyām: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), द्विवचन

• kaṇḍūyet: should scratch
• kaṇḍūyet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kaṇḍūy (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• na: not / should not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• laukikaiḥ: with worldly
• laukikaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laukika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• stavaiḥ: with praises/hymns
• stavaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• toṣayet: should please
• toṣayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘cause to be pleased’)

• bāhyajaiḥ: with externally-born/outer (means)
• bāhyajaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāhyaja (प्रातिपदिक; बाह्य+ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (बाह्येभ्यः जाताः)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Traditional narrator-to-sages framing (dharma-instruction within the Kurma Purana’s discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Devas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By warning against merely outward actions, it implies that true religious life must be grounded in inner discipline and intention—an orientation consistent with realizing the Self beyond external show.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes inwardness and restraint (saṃyama) over external display, aligning with yogic discipline where purity of mind, intention, and focused devotion are valued more than performative acts.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic approach: worship is validated not by sectarian or worldly praise, but by inner sincerity—supporting a non-sectarian, inwardly grounded devotion compatible with Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony.