Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो गुरुवर्गो ऽयं मातृतः पितृतो द्विजाः / अनुवर्तनमेतेषां मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः

Transliteration

ityukto guruvargo 'yaṃ mātṛtaḥ pitṛto dvijāḥ / anuvartanameteṣāṃ manovākkāyakarmabhiḥ

Translation

اے دِوِج! ماں کی طرف اور باپ کی طرف کے یہ تمام قابلِ تعظیم بزرگ ‘گرو’ کہے گئے ہیں؛ من، وانی اور جسمانی عمل سے ان کی پیروی اور خدمت کرنی چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/thus)

• uktaḥ: said/declared
• uktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'said/declared'

• guru-vargaḥ: group of elders/teachers
• guru-vargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'गुरूणां वर्गः'

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mātṛtaḥ: from the maternal side
• mātṛtaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from the mother's side'

• pitṛtaḥ: from the paternal side
• pitṛtaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from the father's side'

• dvijāḥ: O twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijāḥ: Sambodhana/Adhikartā (सम्बोधन/अधिकर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• anuvartanam: obedient following/service
• anuvartanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuvartanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (obedient following/service)

• eteṣām: of these (persons)
• eteṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kāyena: by body
• kāyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• karmabhiḥ: by actions/deeds
• karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna (dharma discourse context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Guruvarga
• Pitṛ-side elders
• Mātṛ-side elders

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, by prescribing purity and discipline of mind, speech, and body; such integrated conduct is treated in the Purana as a prerequisite for inner clarity through which Atman-realization becomes possible.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes ethical integration—governing manas (mind), vāk (speech), and kāya (body)—a foundational yogic discipline akin to yama/niyama, supporting later contemplative practice and Shaiva-Vaishnava sādhanā in the Kurma Purana.

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

By focusing on dharma as a shared spiritual foundation: reverence, service, and self-restraint are upheld as universal virtues that undergird both Shaiva (including Pāśupata-oriented) and Vaishnava paths in the Kurma Purana’s synthetic vision.