Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 39

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

सम्यगाराध्य वक्तारं विसृष्टस्तदनुज्ञया / शिष्यो विद्याफलं भुङ्क्ते प्रेत्य चापद्यते दिवि

Transliteration

samyagārādhya vaktāraṃ visṛṣṭastadanujñayā / śiṣyo vidyāphalaṃ bhuṅkte pretya cāpadyate divi

Translation

Khi đã chí thành tôn kính bậc thầy—người giảng giải giáo pháp—và được thầy cho phép lui về, người đệ tử thọ hưởng quả lành của tri thức ấy; sau khi chết, lại được sinh về cõi trời.

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly, duly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आराध्य: having worshipped/served
• आराध्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rādh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• वक्तारम्: the teacher/speaker
• वक्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• विसृष्टः: dismissed, permitted to depart
• विसृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: of him/that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सम्बन्ध)

• अनुज्ञया: by (his) permission
• अनुज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anujñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विद्या-फलम्: the fruit of learning
• विद्या-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vidyāyāḥ phalam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys/receives
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present); प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रेत्य: after death, having departed
• प्रेत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√i (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘मृत्वा/परलोकं गत्वा’ अर्थे

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आपद्यते: attains, reaches
• आपद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√pad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present); प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma of study and guru-sevā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Guru (Vaktā)
• Śiṣya
• Vidyā
• Svarga (Divi)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined transmission of sacred knowledge through the guru; such purified vidyā becomes a means to higher attainment, with the immediate stated result being merit and post-mortem ascent to divi (heaven).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the yogic discipline of guru-sevā—humble service, reverence, and receiving formal permission (anujñā) before departing—framing learning as a regulated sādhanā rather than mere information.

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

By grounding spiritual progress in dharma and right instruction, it supports the Purāṇa’s synthesis: devotion and disciplined practice (central to both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths) are validated as the shared foundation for higher realization.