Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 27

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

क्षमा दया च विज्ञानं सत्यं चैव दमः शमः / अध्यात्मनिरतं ज्ञानमेतद् ब्राह्मणलक्षणम्

Transliteration

kṣamā dayā ca vijñānaṃ satyaṃ caiva damaḥ śamaḥ / adhyātmanirataṃ jñānametad brāhmaṇalakṣaṇam

Translation

క్షమ, దయ, వివేకజ్ఞానం, సత్యం, ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహం, మనశ్శాంతి—మరియు పరమాత్మనిష్ఠమైన ఆధ్యాత్మిక జ్ఞానం—ఇవే బ్రాహ్మణ లక్షణాలు.

Word by Word

• क्षमा: forgiveness
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विज्ञानम्: discernment/knowledge
• विज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• दमः: self-control (restraint)
• दमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शमः: tranquility (calmness)
• शमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अध्यात्मनिरतम्: engaged in spirituality
• अध्यात्मनिरतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्यात्म-निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘निरत’ (engaged) in ‘अध्यात्म’ (spiritual self-knowledge)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ब्राह्मणलक्षणम्: the characteristic of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणलक्षणम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण-लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘ब्राह्मणस्य लक्षणम्’

Speaker

Traditional narration within Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching discourse (didactic voice attributed to the Purana’s authoritative speaker, commonly Lord Kūrma/Vishnu in dialogue settings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames true learning as adhyātma-oriented jñāna—knowledge anchored in the inner Self—implying that spiritual realization, not mere ritual or birth, is central to the highest identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dama (sense-restraint) and śama (mental tranquility), foundational yogic disciplines that steady the mind and prepare it for adhyātma-jñāna (contemplation of the Self).

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

It does not name either deity directly; instead it presents a shared dharma-yoga ethic (self-control, truth, inner knowledge) that fits the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis by prioritizing inner realization over sectarian markers.