Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 60

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

संप्राप्य पुण्यसंस्कारान्निधीनां परमं निधिम् / उपेक्षितं वृथाचारैर्भवद्भिरिह मोहितैः

Transliteration

saṃprāpya puṇyasaṃskārānnidhīnāṃ paramaṃ nidhim / upekṣitaṃ vṛthācārairbhavadbhiriha mohitaiḥ

Translation

Nhờ những chủng tử công đức, các ngươi đã đạt được Kho Báu tối thượng giữa mọi kho báu; thế nhưng vì mê muội nơi đây, các ngươi lại bỏ quên nó, mải theo những hành vi hư vọng và vô ích.

Word by Word

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• पुण्यसंस्कारान्: meritorious impressions/rites
• पुण्यसंस्कारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘पुण्याः संस्काराः’

• निधीनाम्: of treasures
• निधीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; superlative adjective qualifying निधिम्

• निधिम्: treasure
• निधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपेक्षितम्: neglected
• उपेक्षितम्: Kriya/Predicative (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपेक्षित (कृदन्त; उप+√ईक्ष् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used predicatively ‘was neglected’

• वृथाचारैः: by vain practices
• वृथाचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृथा + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘वृथाः आचाराः’

• भवद्भिः: by you (all)
• भवद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; honorific 2nd-person plural

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• मोहितैः: deluded
• मोहितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहित (कृदन्त; √मुह् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) qualifying भवद्भिः

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna and the sages in a didactic, yoga-dharma context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Atman
• Paramatman
• Dharma
• Yoga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the highest spiritual attainment as the “supreme treasure” already accessible through purified saṃskāras—implying that Self-realization is the true wealth, yet it is overlooked when one is deluded by worldly patterns.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse warns against vṛthācāra—ineffective or merely external religiosity—thus implying the Kurma Purana’s yoga emphasis on inner purification, right discernment (viveka), and disciplined practice aimed at direct realization rather than empty ritualism.

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

By teaching the same highest “parama nidhि” sought in Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, it reflects the Purana’s synthetic stance: the supreme reality taught by Kurma (Vishnu) aligns with the liberating knowledge also upheld in Shaiva/Pashupata-oriented instruction.