Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Viṣṇu at Upamanyu’s Āśrama: Pāśupata Tapas, Darśana of Śiva, and Boons from Devī

Devanagari script

भस्मावदातसर्वाङ्गै रुद्रजाप्यपरायणैः / मुण्डितैर्जटिलैः शुद्धैस्तथान्यैश्च शिखाजटैः / सेवितं तापसैर्नित्य ज्ञानिभिर्ब्रह्मचारिभिः

Transliteration

bhasmāvadātasarvāṅgai rudrajāpyaparāyaṇaiḥ / muṇḍitairjaṭilaiḥ śuddhaistathānyaiśca śikhājaṭaiḥ / sevitaṃ tāpasairnitya jñānibhirbrahmacāribhiḥ

Translation

此处恒为诸苦行者所至：遍身以圣灰（bhasma）涂抹而皎白，专依鲁陀罗念诵（Rudra-japa）；又有清净之人，或剃首，或结髻成结发（jaṭā），或兼具顶髻（śikhā）与结发；并有修苦行者、知真者与坚住梵行（brahmacārin）者常来。

Word by Word

• भस्मावदातसर्वाङ्गैः: by those whose whole bodies are whitened with ash
• भस्मावदातसर्वाङ्गैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म-अवदात-सर्व-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; भस्म + अवदात + सर्व + अङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; बहुव्रीहिः (‘whose whole body is whitened with ash’)

• रुद्रजाप्यपरायणैः: by those devoted to Rudra-recitation
• रुद्रजाप्यपरायणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र-जाप्य-परायण (प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र + जाप्य + परायण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; ‘devoted to Rudra-japa’

• मुण्डितैः: by the shaven-headed
• मुण्डितैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुण्डित (प्रातिपदिक; मुण्ड् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; ‘shaven’

• जटिलैः: by the matted-haired
• जटिलैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; ‘matted-haired’

• शुद्धैः: by the pure
• शुद्धैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; शुध् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; ‘pure’

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (‘also/likewise’)

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; ‘by others’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• शिखाजटैः: by those with topknots and matted hair
• शिखाजटैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखा-जट (प्रातिपदिक; शिखा + जट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine; द्वन्द्वः (‘with topknot and matted locks’)

• सेवितम्: served
• सेवितम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• तापसैः: by ascetics
• तापसैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

• नित्य: always
• नित्य: कालाधिकरण (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (अव्ययभावे)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘always’)

• ज्ञानिभिः: by knowers
• ज्ञानिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

• ब्रह्मचारिभिः: by brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + चारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural masculine

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Purana narrator describing the holy place and its ascetic community)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Tapasvins
• Brahmacarins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By highlighting “jñānins” living with purity, brahmacarya, and disciplined japa, the verse implies that realization of the Self is supported by inner purification and steady practice rather than mere external identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Rudra-japa (mantra recitation) is explicit, supported by tapas (austerity), brahmacarya (continence), and śuddhi (purity). These are characteristic aids to Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā—discipline of body and mind directed to Rudra.

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

Even within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, the verse normalizes Rudra-centered practice (Rudra-japa, ash, jaṭā) as legitimate dharmic sādhanā, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative Shaiva–Vaishnava outlook.