Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

दन्तो ऽलूखलिनस्त्वन्ये ह्यश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे / शाकपर्णाशिनः केचित् संप्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः

Transliteration

danto 'lūkhalinastvanye hyaśmakuṭṭāstathā pare / śākaparṇāśinaḥ kecit saṃprakṣālā marīcipāḥ

Translation

کچھ صرف دانتوں سے چبا کر ہی گزارا کرتے ہیں، کچھ اوکھلی میں کوٹ کر؛ اور کچھ پتھروں سے پیس کر۔ کچھ ساگ اور پتے کھاتے ہیں، کچھ اچھی طرح دھو کر تناول کرتے ہیں، اور کچھ صرف سورج کی کرنوں کا پَان کر کے سخت تپسیا کرتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• दन्तः: (some are) tooth-(using/with teeth)
• दन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (समूहवाचक/प्रकारवाचक)

• अलूखलिनः: without a mortar
• अलूखलिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लूखलिन् (प्रातिपदिक; लूखलिन् ‘having a mortar’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग ‘अ-’ (negation)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (contrast)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (emphasis/indeed)

• अश्मकुट्टाः: stone-pounders (those who pound stones)
• अश्मकुट्टाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्म-कुट्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्मनः कुट्टाः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/adverb (in that manner/likewise)

• परे: others (further ones)
• परे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शाकपर्णाशिनः: eaters of vegetables and leaves
• शाकपर्णाशिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक-पर्ण-आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शाकपर्णानि अश्नन्ति इति)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• संप्रक्षालाः: thorough washers/cleansers
• संप्रक्षालाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-प्रक्षाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सम्-प्रक्षाल’ (well-washed/cleansed; or those who wash thoroughly)

• मरीचिपाः: drinkers of sunrays (ray-drinkers)
• मरीचिपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि-पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मरीचीन् पिबन्ति)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse describing varieties of tapasvins/ascetic observances within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-tapas context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that seekers adopt graded austerities to refine the mind and senses; such purification supports Atman-realization, even though the verse itself is primarily descriptive of tapas.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights tapas (austerity) as a yogic limb—dietary restraint and disciplined living. These are preparatory practices that steady the body-mind for deeper meditation and devotion in the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-dharma framework.

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

Not explicitly in this verse. In the Kurma Purana’s overall Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such tapas is presented as compatible with devotion to the one Supreme—whether approached as Śiva or Viṣṇu—through disciplined purification.