Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 138

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

ज्ञानयोगरताः शान्ता मामेव शरणं गताः / ये हि मां भस्मनिरता ध्यायन्ति सततं हृदि

Transliteration

jñānayogaratāḥ śāntā māmeva śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ / ye hi māṃ bhasmaniratā dhyāyanti satataṃ hṛdi

Translation

جو گیان یوگ میں مشغول، پُرسکون اور صرف میری پناہ میں آئے ہیں—جو بھسم دھارن میں رچے بسے دل کے اندر مسلسل میرا دھیان کرتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• ज्ञानयोगरताः: devoted to jñāna-yoga
• ज्ञानयोगरताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (jñānayoge ratāḥ = devoted to the yoga of knowledge)

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śam)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle: ‘pacified’)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• एव: alone, indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• गताः: having taken (refuge)
• गताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) + ta (क्त) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘having gone/attained’

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भस्मनिरताः: engaged with sacred ash
• भस्मनिरताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + nirata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ram/√rañj in sense ‘engaged’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhasmani niratāḥ = engaged in/with ash)

• ध्यायन्ति: meditate
• ध्यायन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (ध्यै)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (अव्ययभावे)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Bhasma
• Jñāna-Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the indwelling reality to be contemplated “in the heart,” implying that realization is inward: the refuge (śaraṇa) is not external ritual alone but steady inner recognition of the Lord as the Self-supporting ground of consciousness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights jñāna-yoga (discernment and liberating knowledge) combined with continuous heart-centered dhyāna. The mention of bhasma indicates a Pāśupata/Shaiva ascetic marker—renunciation, purity, and remembrance of impermanence—integrated with devotion to the Lord.

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

By praising bhasma-oriented (Shaiva) practitioners who meditate on “Me” (spoken by Kurma/Vishnu), it affirms a non-sectarian, unified vision: Shaiva symbols and disciplines can culminate in the same Supreme Lord, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.