Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

दन्तो ऽलूखलिनस्त्वन्ये ह्यश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे / शाकपर्णाशिनः केचित् संप्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः

Transliteration

danto 'lūkhalinastvanye hyaśmakuṭṭāstathā pare / śākaparṇāśinaḥ kecit saṃprakṣālā marīcipāḥ

Translation

केचिद् दन्तोलूखलिनोऽन्ये, केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे; केचित् शाकपर्णाशिनः, केचित् संप्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः।

Word by Word

• दन्तः: (some are) tooth-(using/with teeth)
• दन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (समूहवाचक/प्रकारवाचक)

• अलूखलिनः: without a mortar
• अलूखलिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लूखलिन् (प्रातिपदिक; लूखलिन् ‘having a mortar’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग ‘अ-’ (negation)

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

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (emphasis/indeed)

• अश्मकुट्टाः: stone-pounders (those who pound stones)
• अश्मकुट्टाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्म-कुट्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्मनः कुट्टाः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/adverb (in that manner/likewise)

• परे: others (further ones)
• परे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शाकपर्णाशिनः: eaters of vegetables and leaves
• शाकपर्णाशिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक-पर्ण-आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शाकपर्णानि अश्नन्ति इति)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• संप्रक्षालाः: thorough washers/cleansers
• संप्रक्षालाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-प्रक्षाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सम्-प्रक्षाल’ (well-washed/cleansed; or those who wash thoroughly)

• मरीचिपाः: drinkers of sunrays (ray-drinkers)
• मरीचिपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि-पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मरीचीन् पिबन्ति)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse describing varieties of tapasvins/ascetic observances within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-tapas context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that seekers adopt graded austerities to refine the mind and senses; such purification supports Atman-realization, even though the verse itself is primarily descriptive of tapas.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights tapas (austerity) as a yogic limb—dietary restraint and disciplined living. These are preparatory practices that steady the body-mind for deeper meditation and devotion in the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-dharma framework.

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

Not explicitly in this verse. In the Kurma Purana’s overall Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such tapas is presented as compatible with devotion to the one Supreme—whether approached as Śiva or Viṣṇu—through disciplined purification.