Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 137

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा यथावद् विप्रेन्द्रान् श्रावयेद् भक्तिसंयुतान् / सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

jñātvā yathāvad viprendrān śrāvayed bhaktisaṃyutān / sarvapāpavinirmukto brahmasāyujyamāpnuyāt

Translation

உபதேசத்தை முறையாக அறிந்து, பக்தியுடன் கூடிய உயர்ந்த பிராமணர்களுக்கு அதைச் செவிமடுக்கச் செய்ய வேண்டும். அவன் எல்லாப் பாவங்களிலிருந்தும் விடுபட்டு பிரம்ம சாயுஜ்யத்தை அடைவான்.

Word by Word

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: properly)

• विप्रेन्द्रान्: chief brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्रान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय: विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• श्रावयेत्: should cause to hear; should recite to
• श्रावयेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) [णिच् causative: श्रावय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• भक्तिसंयुतान्: endowed with devotion
• भक्तिसंयुतान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया: भक्त्या संयुताः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (विप्रेन्द्रान्)

• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः: freed from all sins
• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विनिर्मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पापेभ्यः विनिर्मुक्तः; सर्वपाप-), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्ता)

• ब्रह्मसायुज्यम्: union with Brahman
• ब्रह्मसायुज्यम्: कर्म (Object/Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ब्रह्मणः सायुज्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: would attain
• आप्नुयात्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers in the Upari-bhāga discourse context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vipra (Brahmin sages)
• Bhakti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberation as brahma-sāyujya—union with Brahman—implying the highest goal is intimate oneness with the Supreme reality, attained through right knowledge supported by devotional hearing.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa (devotional hearing/recitation) done “yathāvat” (properly). In Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented dharma, disciplined listening to true teaching functions as a core sādhanā that purifies sin and stabilizes knowledge.

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

While not naming Shiva directly, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic stance: devotion (bhakti) and liberating knowledge culminate in Brahman-realization, a shared non-sectarian summit that Shaiva and Vaishnava paths both point toward in the Kurma tradition.