Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 15
Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
अहिंसायाः परो धर्मो नास्त्यहिंसा परं सुखम् / विधिना या भवेद्धिंसा त्वहिंसैव प्रकीर्तिता
ahiṃsāyāḥ paro dharmo nāstyahiṃsā paraṃ sukham / vidhinā yā bhaveddhiṃsā tvahiṃsaiva prakīrtitā
அஹிம்சையை விட உயர்ந்த தர்மம் இல்லை; அஹிம்சையை விட உயர்ந்த இன்பமும் இல்லை. சாஸ்திர விதி, நியாய முறையின்படி செய்யப்படும், வெளிப்படையில் வன்முறையாகத் தோன்றினாலும், அது அஹிம்சையே எனப் புகழப்பட்டது।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
By placing ahiṃsā at the summit of dharma and sukha, the verse implies that inner realization is inseparable from compassion and restraint; the Atman is approached through purity of intention and non-injurious conduct aligned with dharma.
It highlights yama-like ethical discipline—especially ahiṃsā—as a foundation for Yoga. In the Ishvara Gita context, such restraint supports steadiness of mind (citta-prasāda) necessary for devotion, contemplation, and Pāśupata-oriented spiritual practice.
The Ishvara Gita presents a shared dharmic ethic that underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths: non-violence as the highest principle, while recognizing that duty performed under śāstra-vidhi can be spiritually non-injurious—reflecting the Purana’s integrative, non-sectarian stance.