Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ / सर्वलोकविरुद्धं च धर्ममप्याचरेन्न तु

Transliteration

parityajedarthakāmau yau syātāṃ dharmavarjitau / sarvalokaviruddhaṃ ca dharmamapyācarenna tu

Translation

应当舍弃那离开法（dharma）的财利（artha）与欲乐（kāma）；并且连那种违背众人福祉与共识的所谓“法”，也不可行持。

Word by Word

• parityajet: should abandon
• parityajet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु) + pari
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• artha-kāmau: wealth and desire
• artha-kāmau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (अर्थश्च कामश्च)

• yau: which (two)
• yau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of syātām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; सम्बन्धक-यः (relative pronoun)

• syātām: might be/should be
• syātām: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन

• dharma-varjitau: devoid of dharma
• dharma-varjitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + varjita (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛj/varj ‘to avoid’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (धर्मेण वर्जितौ/धर्मवर्जितौ)

• sarva-loka-viruddham: opposed to all people
• sarva-loka-viruddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + loka + viruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वलोकस्य विरुद्धम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• dharmam: dharma
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-निपात (even/also)

• ācaret: should practice
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु) + ā
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation)

• tu: but
• tu: Virodha (विरोध/Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/however)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Dharma
• Artha
• Kama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By subordinating artha and kāma to dharma, the verse implies an inner hierarchy where the Self is realized through purity and right order; desire-driven aims that violate dharma obscure discernment (viveka) needed for Atman-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights yama-like ethical restraints: renouncing dharma-opposed gain and pleasure, and rejecting harmful ‘pseudo-dharma.’ In the Kurma Purana’s wider yogic frame (including Pashupata-oriented discipline), such moral purification is foundational for steadiness of mind and higher practice.

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

It reflects the Purana’s integrative stance: the Supreme’s instruction (as Lord Kurma/Vishnu) upholds dharma as universal, aligning with Shaiva-Pashupata ethics that reject adharmic desire and socially destructive ritualism—showing a shared dharmic ground across sectarian forms.