Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

Devanagari script

अध्यापयन्ति वै वेदाञ् शूद्राञ् शूद्रोपजीविनः / पठन्ति वैदिकान् मन्त्रान् नास्तिक्यं घोरमाश्रिताः

Transliteration

adhyāpayanti vai vedāñ śūdrāñ śūdropajīvinaḥ / paṭhanti vaidikān mantrān nāstikyaṃ ghoramāśritāḥ

Translation

جو لوگ شُودرَوں کی خدمت پر جیتے ہیں وہ شُودرَوں کو وید بھی پڑھاتے ہیں؛ اور ہولناک ناستکیتا کا سہارا لے کر ویدک منتر پڑھتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• अध्यापयन्ति: teach
• अध्यापयन्ति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि√इ (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — Present Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; णिजन्त (causative)

• वै: indeed
• वै: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• वेदान्: the Vedas
• वेदान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• शूद्रान्: to Śūdras
• शूद्रान्: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• शूद्रोपजीविनः: those who live by (serving) Śūdras
• शूद्रोपजीविनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र-उपजीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• पठन्ति: recite/read
• पठन्ति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — Present Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• वैदिकान्: Vedic
• वैदिकान्: कर्म (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; विशेषणम् (मन्त्रान् इति)

• मन्त्रान्: mantras
• मन्त्रान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• नास्तिक्यम्: atheism/irreligion
• नास्तिक्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: कर्म (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; विशेषणम् (नास्तिक्यम् इति)

• आश्रिताः: having resorted to
• आश्रिताः: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त—आ√श्रि धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; विशेषणम् (शूद्रोपजीविनः इति)

Speaker

Narratorial voice in the Kurma Purana’s discourse on dharma (contextually within the sages’/Vyasa-style narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Śūdra
• Vaidika Mantra
• Nāstikya
• Varṇāśrama-dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it contrasts outer recitation with inner conviction, implying that spiritual realization (ātma-jñāna) requires genuine śraddhā and dharmic integrity, not merely the mechanical use of Vedic speech.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught in this line; it functions as a dharma-warning that mantra and sacred study must be grounded in right faith (āstikya) and proper discipline—foundational prerequisites for effective sādhana, including Pāśupata-oriented purification and contemplation elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; instead, it supports the Purana’s broader synthesis by insisting that any Vaidika path—whether Śaiva (e.g., Pāśupata) or Vaiṣṇava—depends on authentic reverence for Veda and dharma rather than hypocrisy.