Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24

Saṃnyāsa-dharma — Qualifications, Threefold Renunciation, and the Conduct of the Yati

Devanagari script

अधियज्ञं ब्रह्म जपेदाधिदैविकमेव च / आध्यात्मिकं च सततं वेदान्ताभिहितं च यत्

Transliteration

adhiyajñaṃ brahma japedādhidaivikameva ca / ādhyātmikaṃ ca satataṃ vedāntābhihitaṃ ca yat

Translation

بَرحمَن کو—جو یَجْن میں حاضر ربّ (اَدھی یَجْن)، دیوی اصول (اَدھی دَیوِک) اور باطن میں بسنے والا آتما (اَدھیاتم) ہے، اور جسے ویدانت بیان کرتا ہے—ہمیشہ جپ کرے۔

Word by Word

• adhi-yajñam: with regard to the sacrifice
• adhi-yajñam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhi (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभाव—‘यज्ञसम्बन्धे/यज्ञविषये’

• brahma: Brahman (sacred formula/Absolute)
• brahma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जप्यवस्तु

• japet: should recite/mutter
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ādhi-daivikam: with regard to the divine (sphere)
• ādhi-daivikam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial domain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhi (अव्यय) + daivika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभाव—‘दैविकविषये’

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — अवधारणार्थक

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ādhyātmikam: with regard to the spiritual/self (sphere)
• ādhyātmikam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial domain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhi (अव्यय) + ātmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आध्यात्मिकविषये’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• satatam: constantly
• satatam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satatam (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक satata)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘नित्यं/सर्वदा’

• vedānta-abhihitam: taught in the Vedānta
• vedānta-abhihitam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vedānta+abhihita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā? here abhihita from abhi-√dhā/√hā? standard: abhi-√dhā 'to state' → abhihita)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘वेदान्तेन अभिहितम्’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object; correlating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम—‘यत् (which/that)’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna in contemplative discipline aligned with Vedānta

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vedānta
• Adhiyajña
• Adhidaiva
• Adhyātma

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents Brahman as the same reality apprehended in three registers—ritual (adhiyajña), cosmic-divine (adhidaiva), and inward spiritual (adhyātma)—culminating in the Vedāntic insight that the indwelling Self is non-different from Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes continuous japa and contemplative recollection of Brahman across outer worship (yajña), cosmic order (daiva), and inner realization (ātman), aligning mantra-practice with Vedānta and integrating ritual devotion with meditative interiorization.

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

By directing meditation to one Brahman expressed as sacrificial Lord, cosmic divinity, and inner Self, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis: the supreme reality underlying devotional forms (whether Śaiva or Vaiṣṇava) is one and Vedānta-defined.