Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

शुश्रूषैव द्विजातीनां शूद्राणां धर्मसाधनम् / कारुकर्म तथाजीवः पाकयज्ञो ऽपि धर्मतः

Transliteration

śuśrūṣaiva dvijātīnāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ dharmasādhanam / kārukarma tathājīvaḥ pākayajño 'pi dharmataḥ

Translation

Đối với Śūdra, phụng sự tận tâm các bậc song sinh (dvija) chính là phương tiện thành tựu dharma. Cũng vậy, mưu sinh bằng nghề thủ công khéo léo, và thậm chí cử hành lễ tế gia đình bằng thức ăn nấu chín (pākayajña), đều được chuẩn nhận là chính đáng.

Word by Word

• śuśrūṣā: service, attendance
• śuśrūṣā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक; from śru धातु, desiderative sense ‘to serve/listen’)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (emphatic particle)

• dvijātīnām: of the twice-born castes
• dvijātīnām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• śūdrāṇām: of the Shudras
• śūdrāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• dharma-sādhanam: means of dharma (righteous duty)
• dharma-sādhanam: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: dharmasya sādhanaṃ

• kāru-karmā: craft-work, artisan’s work
• kāru-karmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāru (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: kārūṇāṃ karma / kāru-kṛtaṃ karma

• tathā: also, likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb), samuccaya/also-sense

• ājīvaḥ: livelihood
• ājīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pāka-yajñaḥ: domestic (cooked-offering) sacrifice
• pāka-yajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāka (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: pākena (gṛhya/household cooking) kriyamāṇaḥ yajñaḥ

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (particle: ‘also/even’)

• dharmataḥ: according to dharma
• dharmataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार/Accordingly)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharmataḥ (अव्यय; dharma + tas)
• Form: Tasil-anta avyaya (ablatival adverb): ‘according to dharma / from the standpoint of dharma’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Dvijati
• Shudra
• Paka-yajna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not define Ātman directly; it frames dharma as disciplined action and rightful livelihood, implying that spiritual progress is supported by ethically ordered conduct within one’s station.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is taught; the verse emphasizes karma-yoga–like foundations—service, honest work, and sanctified daily rites (pākayajña)—as preparatory disciplines that steady the mind for higher practice.

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

It does not name Śiva directly; consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, it presents dharma as the shared ground on which later Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava spiritual teachings (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline) are built.