Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 70

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

यावदेको ऽनुदिष्टस्य स्नेहो गन्धश्च तिष्ठति / विप्रस्य विदुषो देहे तावद् ब्रह्म न कीर्तयेत्

Transliteration

yāvadeko 'nudiṣṭasya sneho gandhaśca tiṣṭhati / viprasya viduṣo dehe tāvad brahma na kīrtayet

Translation

Chừng nào trong thân của vị Bà-la-môn học giả còn vương một chút ái luyến chưa được tịnh hóa và “mùi” dư ấy còn lưu lại, chừng ấy người ấy chưa nên công khai tuyên thuyết (dạy) tri kiến về Phạm (Brahman).

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; correl. adverb (यावत्—तावत्) = 'as long as'

• ekaḥ: one (single)
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; numeral adjective

• anudiṣṭasya: of one not instructed / of the uninitiated
• anudiṣṭasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anudiṣṭa (कृदन्त; √diś उपदिश्/दिश् + anu, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular; PPP used adjectivally = 'not instructed/unspecified'

• snehaḥ: affection; attachment
• snehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• gandhaḥ: smell; odor
• gandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tiṣṭhati: remains; stands
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular

• viprasya: of the Brahmin
• viprasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• viduṣaḥ: of the learned (man)
• viduṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular; adjective = 'learned'

• dehe: in the body
• dehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• tāvat: so long
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Avyaya; correl. adverb (यावत्—तावत्) = 'so long/that long'

• brahma: Brahman; the Veda/sacred knowledge
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• kīrtayet: should recite/proclaim
• kīrtayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yoga discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that Brahman-realization is not merely intellectual: even subtle residues of attachment (saṃskāra-like ‘odor’) obstruct stable knowledge, so inner purity is treated as a prerequisite for authentic Brahman-teaching.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds yogic ethical purification—reducing sneha (clinging) and its subtle taint—aligning with Kurma Purana’s discipline-oriented path where restraint, inner cleansing, and steadiness precede public instruction in brahma-vidyā.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: whether framed as Shaiva (Pāśupata-like purification) or Vaiṣṇava (Kūrma’s instruction), the same standard holds—purity and yogic fitness are essential before transmitting the highest non-dual truth.