Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

Devanagari script

प्रीणातु भगवानीशः कर्मणानेन शाश्वतः / करोति सततं बुद्ध्या ब्रह्मार्पणमिदं परम्

Transliteration

prīṇātu bhagavānīśaḥ karmaṇānena śāśvataḥ / karoti satataṃ buddhyā brahmārpaṇamidaṃ param

Translation

ขอพระอีศะผู้เป็นภควานและนิรันดร์ทรงพอพระทัยด้วยกรรมนี้ ผู้ใดมีปัญญามั่นคง กระทำการทั้งปวงแล้วอุทิศถวายแด่พรหมันอยู่เสมอ นั่นคือบูชาสูงสุด

Word by Word

• prīṇātu: may (he) please / may (he) gladden
• prīṇātu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prīṇ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• īśaḥ: the Lord
• īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भेदक-अपपद/विशेष्य (appositional to bhagavān)

• karmaṇā: by (this) action
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• anena: by this
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śāśvataḥ: eternal
• śāśvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) of īśaḥ/bhagavān

• karoti: does / performs
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• satatam: always / continually
• satatam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• buddhyā: with (one's) understanding
• buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahma-arpaṇam: offering to Brahman
• brahma-arpaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + arpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'brahmaṇaḥ arpaṇam'

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (demonstrative) of brahma-arpaṇam

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) of brahma-arpaṇam

Speaker

Narratorial/teaching voice within the Purāṇic instruction (devotional injunction addressed to the practitioner)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān
• Īśa
• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to Brahman as the highest reality to whom all action can be consecrated; by offering karma as brahmārpaṇa, one aligns the individual doer with the Supreme, loosening ego-based agency.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A Karma-Yoga discipline is taught: continuous action performed with buddhi (right discernment) as an offering to Brahman/Īśvara—an inner practice of consecration that complements Pāśupata-style devotion and purification.

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

By using universal titles like Īśa and the category of Brahman, the verse frames worship beyond sectarian limits—supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the Supreme Lord is approached through shared theological language.