Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

सो ऽनुगृह्याथ राजानं सुशीलं शीलसंयुतम् / शिष्यत्वे परिजग्राह तपसा क्षीणकल्पषम्

Transliteration

so 'nugṛhyātha rājānaṃ suśīlaṃ śīlasaṃyutam / śiṣyatve parijagrāha tapasā kṣīṇakalpaṣam

Translation

随后，主施以慈恩，收纳那位温良而具德行的国王为弟子；因其罪垢已被苦行磨灭。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun

• अनुगृह्य: having blessed
• अनुगृह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having favoured/after blessing’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरार्थक/क्रमसूचक)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘accepted’

• सुशीलम्: of good conduct
• सुशीलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुशील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies राजानम्

• शील-संयुतम्: endowed with virtue
• शील-संयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed with virtue/conduct’

• शिष्यत्वे: into discipleship
• शिष्यत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/into discipleship’

• परिजग्राह: accepted (took)
• परिजग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrument/means

• क्षीण-कल्मषम्: with sins diminished
• क्षीण-कल्मषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण (कृदन्त; √क्षि क्षये) + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies राजानम्—‘whose sin/impurity is diminished’

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the guru–disciple acceptance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• King (rājā)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it teaches that realization is approached through inner purification: when impurity (kalmasha) is reduced by tapas and character (śīla), one becomes fit for liberating instruction about the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/discipline) is emphasized as a core yogic means of purification and qualification—an essential foundation for receiving upadeśa (formal spiritual instruction) in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented framework.

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

Though not naming Shiva or Vishnu explicitly, it reflects the Purana’s shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ethos: grace (anugraha) and ascetic purification (tapas) together authorize discipleship, a theme common to both Pashupata and Vaishnava soteriology.