Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामाश्रमाणां तु द्वैविध्यं श्रुतदर्शितम् / ब्रह्मचार्युपकुर्वाणो नैष्ठिको ब्रह्मतत्परः

Transliteration

sarveṣāmāśramāṇāṃ tu dvaividhyaṃ śrutadarśitam / brahmacāryupakurvāṇo naiṣṭhiko brahmatatparaḥ

Translation

就一切住期（āśrama）而言，圣传显示有二分之别。因此梵行者（brahmacārin）亦有两类：一为“修毕者”（upakurvāṇa），完成学徒期而入下一阶段；二为“终身坚住者”（naiṣṭhika），终生守梵行，专心归向梵（Brahman）。

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमाणाम् इति)

• आश्रमाणाम्: of the āśramas
• आश्रमाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed; however
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• द्वैविध्यम्: twofold nature; two types
• द्वैविध्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैविध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुतदर्शितम्: taught and shown (in scripture)
• श्रुतदर्शितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुत + दर्शित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (श्रुतं च दर्शितं च)

• ब्रह्मचारी: a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपकुर्वाणः: serving; performing (duties)
• उपकुर्वाणः: क्रिया (Participial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-धातु; ‘serving/performing (duties)’

• नैष्ठिकः: a lifelong (student); steadfast one
• नैष्ठिकः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैष्ठिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मतत्परः: devoted to Brahman
• ब्रह्मतत्परः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणि तत्परः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma (Varnashrama framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brahmacharya
• Ashrama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By defining the naiṣṭhika brahmacārin as brahma-tat-paraḥ, the verse points to Brahman-realization as the highest aim: disciplined life is valued insofar as it orients the practitioner toward the Supreme Reality (Brahman/Ātman).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights brahmacarya as a foundational yogic discipline—lifelong (naiṣṭhika) or preparatory (upakurvāṇa). In the Kurma Purana’s spiritual ethos, such restraint supports steadiness of mind, study, and contemplation conducive to higher yoga and devotion to the Supreme.

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

Though not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, it reflects the Purana’s integrative theology: devotion to the Supreme (Brahman) is presented as the goal beyond sectarian labels, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where the highest reality is one.