Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 103

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमविधिं कृत्स्नं कुर्वाणो मत्परायणः / तेनैव जन्मना ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा याति शिवं पदम्

Transliteration

varṇāśramavidhiṃ kṛtsnaṃ kurvāṇo matparāyaṇaḥ / tenaiva janmanā jñānaṃ labdhvā yāti śivaṃ padam

Translation

جو پورے ورن آشرم کے ودھان کے مطابق عمل کرتا ہے اور مجھے ہی پرم آسرا مانتا ہے، وہ اسی جنم میں گیان پا کر شیو کے پرم پد (موکش) کو پہنچتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• वर्णाश्रमविधिम्: the rule/system of varṇa and āśrama
• वर्णाश्रमविधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण-आश्रम-विधि (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: वर्ण + आश्रम + विधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: “वर्णाश्रमस्य विधिः”)

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विधिम्)

• कुर्वाणः: performing
• कुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कुर्वाण (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग—“doing/performing”

• मत्परायणः: devoted to me
• मत्परायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्-परायण (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) + परायण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“मम परायणः” (devoted to me)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• जन्मना: by that very birth
• जन्मना: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — “having obtained”

• याति: attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवम्: auspicious / Śiva’s
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (as Lord Kurma)
• Varnashrama Dharma
• Jnana (spiritual knowledge)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that disciplined dharma performed with single-pointed surrender to the Lord matures into jñāna in this very life, culminating in the “Śiva-state,” i.e., the auspicious, liberated condition where the Self is realized beyond bondage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga aligned with varṇāśrama duties, purified by bhakti (matparāyaṇatā). In the Ishvara Gita framework, such duty-bound practice becomes a means to inner purification and the rise of liberating knowledge, consistent with Pāśupata-oriented renunciation-through-realization rather than mere ritualism.

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

Vishnu (as Kurma) teaches that devotion to Him leads to “Śiva padam,” presenting liberation in Śiva-terms while spoken by Vishnu—an explicit Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis where the supreme goal is one, described through complementary divine names.