Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

उपवासपराकादिकृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणादिभिः / शरीरशोषणं प्राहुस्तापसास्तप उत्तमम्

Transliteration

upavāsaparākādikṛcchracāndrāyaṇādibhiḥ / śarīraśoṣaṇaṃ prāhustāpasāstapa uttamam

Translation

ఉపవాసం, పరాక, కృచ్ఛ్ర, చాంద్రాయణం మొదలైన వ్రతాల ద్వారా శరీరశోషణం (కాయక్లేశం) చేయడమే తపస్వులు ‘ఉత్తమ తపస్సు’ అని చెబుతారు.

Word by Word

• उपवासपराकादिकृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणादिभिः: by fasts, parāka, kṛcchra, cāndrāyaṇa, etc.
• उपवासपराकादिकृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार/सूची-समास with 'आदि' and final 'आदि' + भिस्: 'उपवास-पराक-आदि-कृच्छ्र-चान्द्रायण-आदिभिः' = 'by fasts, parāka, etc., kṛcchra, cāndrāyaṇa, etc.'

• शरीरशोषणम्: emaciation of the body
• शरीरशोषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + शोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'शरीरस्य शोषणम्'

• प्राहुः: they say
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• तापसाः: ascetics
• तापसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; predicate-object with 'प्राहुः'

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; agrees with 'तपः'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Tapas
• Upavasa
• Paraka
• Krcchra
• Candrayaṇa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames bodily mortification as a means of purification and restraint, preparing the seeker for higher knowledge of the Self taught in the Ishvara Gita, rather than defining Atman in this line itself.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights tapas-based disciplines—fasting and classical vratas (Parāka, Kṛcchra, Cāndrāyaṇa)—as preparatory limbs that support sense-control and steadiness, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented purification before deeper yoga and contemplation.

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

By presenting tapas and vrata as shared, pan-sectarian yogic disciplines, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same ascetic means serve devotion and realization under Ishvara, whether approached through Vishnu (Kurma) or Shaiva yogic idiom.