Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 51

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

इहाश्रमवरे रम्ये निवसिष्यथ सर्वदा / मद्भावनासमायुक्तास्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यथ

Transliteration

ihāśramavare ramye nivasiṣyatha sarvadā / madbhāvanāsamāyuktāstataḥ siddhimavāpsyatha

Translation

Sa kaaya-aya at dakilang āśrama na ito, maninirahan kayo magpakailanman. At kapag kaisa kayo sa pagninilay sa Akin, makakamtan ninyo ang siddhi, ang ganap na kaganapan.

Word by Word

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: here)

• āśrama-vare: in the excellent hermitage
• āśrama-vare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (vare āśrame = in the excellent hermitage); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• ramye: pleasant
• ramye: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• nivasiṣyatha: you will dwell
• nivasiṣyatha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vas (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (2nd person plural future)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

• mat-bhāvanā-samāyuktāḥ: endowed with contemplation of me
• mat-bhāvanā-samāyuktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhāvanā + samāyukta (प्रातिपदिक; √yuj धातु-आधारित)
• Form: समासः (mat-bhāvanā) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष + samāyukta (क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• tataḥ: thereupon; then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/अनन्तरार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable: then/from that)

• siddhim: attainment; success
• siddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• avāpsyatha: you will obtain
• avāpsyatha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (2nd person plural future)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the recipients (sages/devotees/Indradyumna’s party) to remain in the āśrama with God-contemplation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Ashrama
• Siddhi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as a realizable Lord who is approached through sustained “mad-bhāvanā” (God-remembrance/inner contemplation), implying that perfection arises from inward alignment with the divine reality rather than from mere external ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dhyāna-like practice—continuous contemplation of the Lord (mad-bhāvanā)—supported by disciplined residence in a sacred āśrama setting, aligning with Kurma Purana’s yoga-ethic where environment, conduct, and steady remembrance mature into siddhi.

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

While Vishnu (as Kurma) speaks in first person, the teaching mirrors the Purana’s synthesis: siddhi is gained through single-pointed devotion to the Supreme Lord, a principle shared across Shaiva-Pashupata and Vaishnava contemplative frameworks within the Kurma Purana.