Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

उपदेक्ष्यति तज्ज्ञानं शिष्याणां ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम् / सर्ववेदान्तसारं हि धर्मान् वेदनिदर्शितान्

Transliteration

upadekṣyati tajjñānaṃ śiṣyāṇāṃ brahmasaṃjñitam / sarvavedāntasāraṃ hi dharmān vedanidarśitān

Translation

他将把那被称为“梵智”（Brahma-jñāna）的知识传授给弟子；此乃一切吠檀多之精髓，并阐明由吠陀所指示与确立的诸般法（dharma）。

Word by Word

• उपदेक्ष्यति: will instruct/teach
• उपदेक्ष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (demonstrative)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिष्याणाम्: of the disciples
• शिष्याणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• ब्रह्म-संज्ञितम्: called ‘Brahman’
• ब्रह्म-संज्ञितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), ‘ब्रह्म’ इति संज्ञा यस्य (called ‘Brahman’)

• सर्व-वेदान्त-सारम्: the essence of all Vedānta
• सर्व-वेदान्त-सारम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—‘सर्वेषां वेदान्तानां सारः’ (essence of all Vedāntas)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• धर्मान्: duties/dharmas
• धर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वेद-निदर्शितान्: indicated by the Veda
• वेद-निदर्शितान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + निदर्शित (कृदन्त; नि-√दृश्/√दर्श्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP), ‘वेदेन निदर्शिताः’ (shown/indicated by the Veda)

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta (describing the transmission of Brahma-jñāna and Veda-grounded dharma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vedānta
• Veda
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the teaching “Brahma-knowledge” and “the essence of all Vedānta,” the verse points to liberating insight into Brahman/Ātman as the highest purport of scriptural inquiry.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse does not list techniques; it frames the foundation for practice: authentic instruction (upadeśa) grounded in Vedānta and Vedic dharma, which in the Kurma Purana supports disciplined sādhanā and right conduct as prerequisites for realization.

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

It does not mention Shiva or Vishnu explicitly; its emphasis is on a Veda-validated, Vedānta-centered teaching tradition—an approach the Kurma Purana often uses to harmonize sectarian paths under a shared scriptural authority.