Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

विविधाश्चोपनिषद आत्मसंसिद्धये जपेत् / विद्याविशेषान् सावित्रीं रुद्राध्यायं तथैव च

Transliteration

vividhāścopaniṣada ātmasaṃsiddhaye japet / vidyāviśeṣān sāvitrīṃ rudrādhyāyaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

خود کی کامل معرفت کے لیے گوناگوں اُپنشدوں کا جپ کرے۔ اسی طرح خاص مقدس ودیائیں—ساوتری (گایتری) اور رُدرادھیائے—کا بھی باقاعدہ अभ्यास کرے۔

Word by Word

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

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

• उपनिषदः: Upaniṣads
• उपनिषदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपनिषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्

• आत्म-संसिद्धये: for self-realization
• आत्म-संसिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + संसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचनम्; आत्मसंसिद्धि = आत्मनः संसिद्धिः (for the perfection of the self)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

• विद्या-विशेषान्: special teachings/knowledges
• विद्या-विशेषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनम्; विद्याविशेष = विद्यायाः विशेषः (special forms of knowledge)

• सावित्रीम्: the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• सावित्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• रुद्र-अध्यायम्: the Rudra chapter/hymn
• रुद्र-अध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्; रुद्राध्याय = रुद्रस्य अध्यायः (chapter/hymn of Rudra)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in that manner/likewise)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis)

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

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers on discipline for Self-realization

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Upanishads
• Savitri (Gayatri)
• Rudra
• Rudradhyaya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It treats Self-realization (ātma-saṃsiddhi) as the goal and presents Upaniṣadic recitation and mantra-vidyās as direct aids to awakening that inner knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Mantra-yoga through japa is emphasized—recitation of Upaniṣadic teachings along with focused repetition of Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) and Rudra-centered litany (Rudrādhyāya), integrating knowledge (jñāna) and disciplined practice (sādhana).

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

By recommending both Sāvitrī (a Vaidika solar-brahmanical mantra) and Rudrādhyāya (Rudra/Śiva devotion) as complementary means to ātma-siddhi, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where Shaiva and Vaishnava streams support a single liberating aim.