Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 32

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

यमान् सेवेत सततं नियमांश्चाप्यतन्द्रितः / कृष्णाजिनी सोत्तरीयः शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतवान्

Transliteration

yamān seveta satataṃ niyamāṃścāpyatandritaḥ / kṛṣṇājinī sottarīyaḥ śuklayajñopavītavān

Translation

وہ یموں کی ہمیشہ پابندی کرے اور بے پروائی کے بغیر نیَموں کو بھی بجا لائے۔ وہ کرشن اجین (کالے ہرن کی کھال) کے ساتھ اُتریہ دھارے اور سفید یجنوپویت (جنیو) پہنے۔

Word by Word

• यमान्: the yamas (restraints)
• यमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सेवेत: should practice/observe
• सेवेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• नियमान्: the niyamas (observances)
• नियमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied, diligent
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (not lazy)

• कृष्णाजिनी: wearing a black antelope-skin
• कृष्णाजिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण-अजिनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—कृष्णं अजिनं यस्य (wearing black antelope-skin)

• स-उत्तरीयः: with an upper cloth
• स-उत्तरीयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उत्तरीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहार्थक-उपसर्ग (with an upper garment)

• शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतवान्: wearing a white sacred thread
• शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल-यज्ञोपवीत-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शुक्लं यज्ञोपवीतं (white sacred thread) + वत् (possessing)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and yogic discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• yama
• niyama
• yajñopavīta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that realization is supported by purification—steady yama and niyama discipline prepares the mind for knowledge of the Self by reducing distraction and ethical impurity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Foundational yogic practice: continuous observance of yamas and niyamas (restraints and observances), along with a regulated ascetic/Vedic lifestyle signified by deer-skin, upper cloth, and the sacred thread—supporting steadiness for mantra, worship, and meditation.

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

By emphasizing shared yogic-dharmic discipline rather than sectarian markers: the Kurma Purana frames liberation as grounded in universal restraints/observances honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.