Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 48

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

जन्तुव्याप्ते श्मशाने च जीर्णगोष्ठे चतुष्पथे / सशब्दे सभये वापि चैत्यवल्मीकसंचये

Transliteration

jantuvyāpte śmaśāne ca jīrṇagoṣṭhe catuṣpathe / saśabde sabhaye vāpi caityavalmīkasaṃcaye

Translation

Ở nơi đông loài sinh vật, nơi bãi thiêu, nơi chuồng bò đổ nát, nơi ngã tư, nơi ồn ào hay gây sợ hãi, và cả nơi chất đống miếu thờ cùng gò mối—chớ nên hành trì thiền định bền vững tại đó.

Word by Word

• जन्तुव्याप्ते: in a creature-infested (place)
• जन्तुव्याप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्तु + व्याप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular masculine); तत्पुरुषः: ‘जन्तुभिः व्याप्तः’ (infested with creatures)

• श्मशाने: in a cremation ground
• श्मशाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular neuter)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• जीर्णगोष्ठे: in an old cowshed
• जीर्णगोष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण + गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular neuter); कर्मधारयः: ‘जीर्णा गोष्ठा’

• चतुष्पथे: at a crossroads
• चतुष्पथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुस् + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular neuter); द्विगु-समासः: ‘चत्वारः पथाः यस्मिन्’ (crossroads)

• सशब्दे: in a noisy (place)
• सशब्दे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular neuter); बहुव्रीहिः: ‘शब्दः यस्मिन् सः’ (noisy)

• सभये: in a fearful (place)
• सभये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular neuter); बहुव्रीहिः: ‘भयम् यस्मिन् सः’ (fearful)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (also/even)

• चैत्यवल्मीकसंचये: in a cluster of shrines and anthills
• चैत्यवल्मीकसंचये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य + वल्मीक + संचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular masculine); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: ‘चैत्ये च वल्मीके च (तयोः) संचयः/संचये’ (heap/cluster of shrine and anthills)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Indradyumna
• Ishvara Gita
• Pashupata Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that realization of the Self requires steadiness (ekāgratā) and sattvic conditions; disturbed or fear-inducing locations agitate the mind, obstructing inward absorption where Atman is directly known.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It gives a practical dhyāna-vidhi rule: choose a quiet, safe, and stable environment for concentration. Avoid places that provoke distraction (noise, crowds) or fear, since they hinder the disciplined mind required in Pāśupata-oriented contemplation of Īśvara.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, Vishnu as Kurma teaches a discipline often associated with Shaiva-Pashupata yoga—showing shared yogic standards and a unified puranic approach to Īśvara-bhakti and meditation.