Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारिवनस्थानां भिक्षुकाणां द्विजोत्तमाः / साधारणं ब्रह्मचर्यं प्रोवाच कमलोद्भवः

Transliteration

brahmacārivanasthānāṃ bhikṣukāṇāṃ dvijottamāḥ / sādhāraṇaṃ brahmacaryaṃ provāca kamalodbhavaḥ

Translation

இருபிறப்பில் சிறந்தோரே, கமலோத்பவ பிரம்மா பிரம்மச்சாரி, வனஸ்தன், பிக்ஷு—இவர்களுக்கெல்லாம் பொதுவான பிரம்மச்சர்ய ஒழுக்கத்தை அறிவித்தார்।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचारि-वनस्थानाम्: of students and forest-dwellers
• ब्रह्मचारि-वनस्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वनस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara): ‘ब्रह्मचारिणां च वनस्थानां च’

• भिक्षुकाणाम्: of mendicants
• भिक्षुकाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्विज-उत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (‘उत्तमा द्विजाः’)

• साधारणम्: common; shared
• साधारणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy; brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: said; proclaimed
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कमल-उद्भवः: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• कमल-उद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘कमलात् उद्भवः’)

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Kurma Purana narrator) citing Brahmā’s injunction

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Kamalodbhava)
• Brahmacārin
• Vānaprastha
• Bhikṣu (mendicant)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing brahmacarya as a shared discipline across higher āśramas, the verse points to inner mastery—sense-restraint and purity—as a prerequisite for realizing the Self beyond bodily impulses.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes brahmacarya (continence and regulated conduct), a foundational restraint that stabilizes the mind and supports tapas, svādhyāya, and dhyāna—core supports for Pāśupata-leaning yogic discipline in the Kurma Purana.

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

Indirectly: the shared ethical discipline for spiritual aspirants reflects the Purana’s integrative approach—one dharma supporting liberation regardless of whether devotion is oriented to Śiva, Viṣṇu, or the unified Īśvara principle.