Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 3

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तं विविधं कर्म प्रकुर्वाणा यथाविधि / यजन्ति विविधैर्यज्ञैस्तपन्ति च महर्षयः

Transliteration

pravṛttaṃ vividhaṃ karma prakurvāṇā yathāvidhi / yajanti vividhairyajñaistapanti ca maharṣayaḥ

Translation

Abala ang mga dakilang rishi sa sari-saring tungkulin ng gawa, isinasagawa ayon sa tuntunin; sumasamba sila sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang yajña at nagsasanay din ng matinding pag-austeridad.

Word by Word

• pravṛttam: engaged/undertaken
• pravṛttam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Past Passive Participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifies karma

• vividham: various
• vividham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies karma

• karma: ritual action
• karma: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prakurvāṇāḥ: performing
• prakurvāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; participle qualifying subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Present Active Participle (शतृ), Parasmaipada; Masculine, Nominative Plural; agrees with implied subject maharṣayaḥ

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed method
• yathā-vidhi: Prakāra (प्रकार/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vidhi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; adverbial ‘according to rule’

• yajanti: they sacrifice
• yajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• vividhaiḥ: with various
• vividhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifies yajñaiḥ

• yajñaiḥ: sacrifices
• yajñaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• tapanti: they practice austerity
• tapanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• maharṣayaḥ: great sages
• maharṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing/teaching within the Kurma Purana narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Maharshis
• Yajna
• Tapas
• Vidhi (Vedic injunction)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that disciplined action—performed according to śāstra through yajña and tapas—purifies the practitioner, making the mind fit to realize the Atman beyond mere ritual activity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga foundations: regulated duty (yathāvidhi), sacrificial worship (yajña), and austerity (tapas)—core preparatory practices that, in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented dharma, support inner concentration and higher knowledge.

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

By stressing yajña-tapas within a yoga-oriented dharma framework, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic approach where devotion, ritual, and ascetic discipline can converge toward the one Supreme—honored in both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms.