Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

धर्मात् संजायते मोक्षो ह्यर्थात् कामो ऽभिजायते / एवं साधनसाध्यत्वं चातुर्विध्ये प्रदर्शितम्

Transliteration

dharmāt saṃjāyate mokṣo hyarthāt kāmo 'bhijāyate / evaṃ sādhanasādhyatvaṃ cāturvidhye pradarśitam

Translation

由达摩生起解脱（mokṣa）；由财富（artha）则生起欲愿（kāma）。因此，在人生四大目标的体系中，作为手段与作为目的的关系被清楚揭示。

Word by Word

• धर्मात्: from dharma
• धर्मात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative/source)

• संजायते: arises/is born
• संजायते: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/बलार्थ (emphasis/for)

• अर्थात्: from wealth
• अर्थात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान

• कामः: desire
• कामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभिजायते: is produced/arises
• अभिजायते: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• साधन-साध्यत्वम्: the relation of means and end
• साधन-साध्यत्वम्: कर्म/विषय (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + साध्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: समास: द्वन्द्व (साधनं च साध्यं च) + भाववाचक ‘त्व’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चातुर्विध्ये: in the fourfold (scheme)
• चातुर्विध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्विध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• प्रदर्शितम्: has been shown
• प्रदर्शितम्: क्रिया (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दृश् (धातु) → प्रदर्शित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘has been shown’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in Purāṇic dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Artha
• Kama
• Moksha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By placing Moksha as the fruit of Dharma, the verse implies liberation is attained through right living that purifies the mind—making it fit for Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna), the direct realization of the Atman beyond desire and acquisition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse does not name a specific yoga technique; it establishes the ethical foundation: Dharma functions as the primary sādhana (means). In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such dharma supports yogic disciplines—restraint, purity, devotion, and contemplation—leading toward liberation.

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

While not explicitly naming Shiva or Vishnu, it reflects the shared Purāṇic synthesis: liberation is grounded in Dharma and disciplined practice, a principle upheld across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, including Pāśupata-oriented and Narayana-centered teachings within the Kurma Purana.