Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

योगाभ्यासरतो नित्यमारुरुक्षुर्जितेन्द्रियः / ज्ञानाय वर्तते भिक्षुः प्रोच्यते पारमेष्ठिकः

Transliteration

yogābhyāsarato nityamārurukṣurjitendriyaḥ / jñānāya vartate bhikṣuḥ procyate pārameṣṭhikaḥ

Translation

Ang pulubing monghe na laging nakatuon sa pagsasanay ng yoga, nagsisikap umakyat tungo sa samādhi, at nagwagi sa mga pandama, na nabubuhay lamang para sa kaalamang nagpapalaya—siya’y ipinahahayag na “pārameṣṭhika,” ang nakahanay sa Kataas-taasang Panginoon (Parameśvara).

Word by Word

• योगाभ्यासरतः: engaged in the practice of yoga
• योगाभ्यासरतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग-अभ्यास-रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—योगाभ्यासे रतः (locative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आरुरुक्षुः: desiring to ascend (to higher knowledge)
• आरुरुक्षुः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु) + उ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—देशिदेरिवेटिव/इच्छार्थक (desiderative sense) ‘to wish to ascend’

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः

• ज्ञानाय: for knowledge
• ज्ञानाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• वर्तते: conducts himself / lives
• वर्तते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भिक्षुः: a mendicant
• भिक्षुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is called / is said to be
• प्रोच्यते: क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• पारमेष्ठिकः: a Pārameṣṭhika (highest-class ascetic)
• पारमेष्ठिकः: प्रत्यय/विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेष्ठिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Parameshvara
• Bhikshu
• Yoga
• Jnana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that liberation-oriented knowledge (jñāna) arises when the senses are mastered and yoga is practiced steadily, culminating in alignment with the Supreme (Parameśvara/Parameṣṭhin), i.e., realization of the highest Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes sustained yogābhyāsa (continuous disciplined practice), sense-restraint (jitendriyatā), and the aspirant-stage (ārurukṣu) orientation toward higher absorption—practiced as a renunciant whose life is directed to liberating wisdom.

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

By using the title Parameśvara/Parameṣṭhin as the supreme referent while spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu), it reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the Supreme Lord is affirmed beyond exclusive Shaiva–Vaishnava division.