Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

विशोकाः सत्त्वबहुला एकान्तबहुलास्तथा / ध्याननिष्ठास्तपोनिष्ठा महादेवपरायणाः

Transliteration

viśokāḥ sattvabahulā ekāntabahulāstathā / dhyānaniṣṭhāstaponiṣṭhā mahādevaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

他们无忧无悲，萨埵充盛，乐于独处；安住于禅定与苦行——如此之人，尽皆归依并奉献于大天（Mahādeva）。

Word by Word

• विशोकाः: free from sorrow
• विशोकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (for implied जनाः/प्रजाः)

• सत्त्वबहुलाः: abounding in sattva
• सत्त्वबहुलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (सत्त्वेन बहुलाः) विशेषणम्

• एकान्तबहुलाः: given much to solitude/one-pointedness
• एकान्तबहुलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकान्त + बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (एकान्तेन बहुलाः) विशेषणम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise/also)

• ध्याननिष्ठाः: steadfast in meditation
• ध्याननिष्ठाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (ध्याने निष्ठा येषां) विशेषणम्

• तपोनिष्ठाः: steadfast in austerity
• तपोनिष्ठाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (तपसि निष्ठा येषां) विशेषणम्

• महादेवपरायणाः: devoted to Mahādeva
• महादेवपरायणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादेव + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (महादेवे परायणाः) विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on Shaiva devotion and yogic discipline within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing freedom from grief and dominance of sattva, the verse points to an inwardly stabilized consciousness—symptoms traditionally associated with the Atman’s clarity when the mind is purified and no longer shaken by dualities.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes ekānta (seclusion/one-pointed withdrawal), dhyāna-niṣṭhā (steady meditative absorption), and tapaḥ-niṣṭhā (disciplined austerity)—a Pāśupata-leaning yogic regimen where inner concentration and ethical-ascetic force support devotion to Śiva.

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

With Lord Kūrma teaching devotion to Mahādeva as a valid highest path, the Purāṇa models a Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony: Vishnu himself endorses Śiva-centered yoga-bhakti as spiritually authoritative.