Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 71

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

वृत्तिसङ्कोचमन्विच्छेन्नेहेत धनविस्तरम् / धनलोभे प्रसक्तस्तु ब्राह्मण्यादेव हीयते

Transliteration

vṛttisaṅkocamanvicchenneheta dhanavistaram / dhanalobhe prasaktastu brāhmaṇyādeva hīyate

Translation

வாழ்வாதாரத்தில் கட்டுப்பாடும் எளிமையும் நாட வேண்டும்; செல்வ விரிவை இங்கு நாடி அலைக்கூடாது. செல்வ ஆசையில் மூழ்கினவன் பிராமண்யத்திலிருந்தே வீழ்வான்.

Word by Word

• वृत्तिसङ्कोचम्: restriction of livelihood
• वृत्तिसङ्कोचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति + सङ्कोच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृत्तेः सङ्कोचः); accusative singular masculine

• अन्विच्छेत्: should seek
• अन्विच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative 3rd sg (should seek)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात; negation

• ईहेत: should strive for
• ईहेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative 3rd sg (should strive)

• धनविस्तरम्: expansion of wealth
• धनविस्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनस्य विस्तारः); accusative singular masculine

• धनलोभे: in greed for wealth
• धनलोभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनस्य लोभः); locative singular masculine

• प्रसक्तः: being attached
• प्रसक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√सञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भावे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally (attached/engaged)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक निपात; but/indeed

• ब्राह्मण्यात्: from Brahminhood/Brahmin status
• ब्राह्मण्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative singular neuter

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात; emphatic particle

• हीयते: declines/falls away
• हीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; present passive/medio-passive ‘is diminished/falls away’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on varṇāśrama-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Brahmana
• Varṇāśrama-dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that identification with wealth and acquisition strengthens attachment (āsakti), which veils inner clarity needed for ātma-jñāna; restraint in livelihood supports self-knowledge by reducing grasping.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yama-like disciplines—aparigraha (non-hoarding) and vairāgya (dispassion). Such ethical restraint is presented as a foundation for higher practice, including Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava integrated devotion and yogic steadiness in the Kurma Purana.

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

It does not name Śiva explicitly, but it reflects the shared dharmic-yogic ethic upheld across the Purana’s Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis: inner purity and restraint are prerequisites for realizing the one Supreme Lord beyond sectarian division.