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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Kali-yuga Doṣas, the Supremacy of Rudra as Refuge, and the Closure of the Manvantara Teaching

उच्चासनस्थाः शूद्रास्तु द्विजमध्ये परन्तप / ज्ञात्वा न हिंसते राजा कलौ कालबलेन तु

uccāsanasthāḥ śūdrāstu dvijamadhye parantapa / jñātvā na hiṃsate rājā kalau kālabalena tu

在迦梨之世,噬敌者啊,连首陀罗也将坐于高座,置身二次生者之间;然而国王明知此乃时间(Kāla)之力所驱使,便不以暴力相向。

uccāsana-sthāḥseated on high seats
uccāsana-sthāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootuccāsana (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (uccāsane sthitāḥ)
śūdrāḥŚūdras
śūdrāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootśūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
tubut; indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)
dvija-madhyeamong the twice-born
dvija-madhye:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (madhya), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dvijānām madhye)
parantapaO scorcher of foes
parantapa:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
TypeNoun
Rootparantapa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन (address)
jñātvāhaving known
jñātvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootjñā (धातु)
Formकृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having known)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध
hiṃsateharms; injures
hiṃsate:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Roothiṃs (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
rājāthe king
rājā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
kalauin Kali (age)
kalau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-Location)
TypeNoun
Rootkali (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
kāla-balenaby the power of time
kāla-balena:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootkāla (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (bala), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kālasya balena)
tuindeed; however
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (context: teachings on dharma amid Kali-yuga conditions)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

K
Kali-yuga
S
Shudra
D
Dvija
R
Raja
K
Kala (Time)

FAQs

Indirectly, it points to a core Purāṇic-Yogic insight: worldly upheavals are governed by Kāla (Time), so wise governance rests on discernment rather than ego-driven reaction—an attitude aligned with self-mastery associated with Atman-centered understanding.

The verse emphasizes restraint (ahiṃsā/akrodha) and viveka (discriminative understanding) in action—practical yogic disciplines that stabilize the mind and support dharmic leadership, resonant with Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-śāstra orientation.

While not naming Śiva explicitly, the ethic of non-violence, inner restraint, and submission to Kāla reflects the shared Shaiva-Vaishnava dharma-yoga framework in the Kurma Purana, where spiritual governance aligns with universal order rather than sectarian rivalry.