Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

जीवितार्थमपि द्वेषाद् गुरुभिर्नैव भाषणम् / उदितो ऽपि गुणैरन्यैर्गुरुद्वेषी पतत्यधः

Transliteration

jīvitārthamapi dveṣād gurubhirnaiva bhāṣaṇam / udito 'pi guṇairanyairgurudveṣī patatyadhaḥ

Translation

جان بچانے کے لیے بھی، نفرت کے باعث گرو ایسے شخص سے گفتگو نہیں کرتے؛ اور وہ دوسرے اوصاف میں چمکے بھی، جو گرو سے بغض رکھے وہ پستی میں گرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• जीवितार्थम्: for the sake of life
• जीवितार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जीवितस्य अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• द्वेषात्: from hatred
• द्वेषात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• गुरुभिः: with teachers
• गुरुभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• एव: at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/at all)

• भाषणम्: speaking/conversation
• भाषणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उदितः: endowed/risen (with)
• उदितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: particle: even/also

• गुणैः: with virtues
• गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अन्यैः: other
• अन्यैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गुरुद्वेषी: one who hates the teacher
• गुरुद्वेषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-द्वेषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरुषु द्वेषी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पतति: falls
• पतति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present, 3rd person, Singular

• अधः: downwards
• अधः: Gati/Deśa (गति/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of direction: downward)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-teaching context to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Dharma
• Adhaḥ-patana (spiritual downfall)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual realization depends on proper adhikāra (fitness). Guru-dveṣa blocks the transmission of liberating knowledge, so even good qualities cannot mature into Atman-realization without reverence and receptivity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights the foundational discipline (yama-like ethical restraint) required for Yoga: humility, non-hostility, and guru-sevā. In the Kurma Purana’s sādhanā frame (including Pāśupata-oriented practice), respect for the guru is a prerequisite for mantra, vrata, and meditation to bear fruit.

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

By emphasizing guru-bhakti as a universal dharmic rule that underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths: devotion to the teacher supports the shared goal of liberation, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative (non-sectarian) spirit.