Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मण्याधाय क्रमाणि निःसङ्गः कामवर्जितः / प्रसन्नेनैव मनसा कुर्वाणो याति तत्पदम्

Transliteration

brahmaṇyādhāya kramāṇi niḥsaṅgaḥ kāmavarjitaḥ / prasannenaiva manasā kurvāṇo yāti tatpadam

Translation

Ai đặt mọi hành động nơi Brahman, không chấp trước, lìa dục vọng, và hành trì với tâm hoan tịnh—người ấy đạt đến cảnh giới tối thượng.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणि: in Brahman
• ब्रह्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• आधाय: having placed/fixed
• आधाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having placed/fixed'

• क्रमाणि: steps, stages, procedures
• क्रमाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• निःसङ्गः: detached, without attachment
• निःसङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥsaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• काम-वर्जितः: free from desire
• काम-वर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + varjita (कृदन्त; वर्ज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नेन: with a serene (one)
• प्रसन्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (कृदन्त; सद्/सद्-प्रसद् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental qualifying मनसा

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुर्वाणः: doing, performing
• कुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, parasmaipada); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-पदम्: that state/abode
• तत्-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वनामपूर्वपद); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (didactic discourse on Yoga and dharma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Brahman—the final “state/abode” reached not by abandoning action, but by dedicating action to the Supreme and dissolving attachment and desire, implying liberation through inner non-clinging.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes Karma-Yoga: performing one’s duties in an ordered way (kramāṇi) while offering them to Brahman, cultivating niḥsaṅgatā (non-attachment), kāma-tyāga (freedom from desire), and prasanna-manas (mental serenity).

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

By centering liberation on dedication to the Supreme (Brahman/Ishvara) rather than sectarian identity, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Shaiva-Vaishnava paths converge in disciplined Yoga, offering, and detachment.