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Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Varnāśrama-Krama, Vairāgya as the Ground of Saṃnyāsa, and Brahmārpaṇa Karma-yoga

यद्वा फलानां संन्यासं प्रकुर्यात् परमेश्वरे / कर्मणामेतदप्याहुः ब्रह्मार्पणमनुत्तमम्

yadvā phalānāṃ saṃnyāsaṃ prakuryāt parameśvare / karmaṇāmetadapyāhuḥ brahmārpaṇamanuttamam

又或者,应将诸行之果报舍离,奉献于至上主帕拉梅湿伐罗。智者亦宣说:此亦是将诸业奉于梵的无上供献。

yador if / alternatively
yad:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), विकल्पार्थ-प्रयोग (correlative/alternative marker) in yadvā
or
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)
phalānāmof fruits (results)
phalānām:
Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootphala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
saṃnyāsamrenunciation
saṃnyāsam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsaṃnyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
prakuryātshould perform / should undertake
prakuryāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra + kṛ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
parameśvarein/unto the Supreme Lord
parameśvare:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootparameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: parama + īśvara
karmaṇāmof actions
karmaṇām:
Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
etatthis
etat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
apialso
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)
āhuḥthey have said / call
āhuḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootah (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)
brahma-arpaṇamoffering to Brahman
brahma-arpaṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + arpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'brahmaṇaḥ arpaṇam'
anuttamamunsurpassed
anuttamam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootanuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of brahma-arpaṇam

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching dharma-yoga to the sages

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

P
Parameshvara
B
Brahman

FAQs

By calling the dedication of action “brahmārpaṇam,” the verse points to Brahman/Parameśvara as the supreme reality to whom all agency and results are surrendered, aligning the individual self with the highest principle through offering rather than possessiveness.

It teaches karma-yoga through phala-tyāga: acting according to dharma while relinquishing attachment to outcomes and mentally offering every act to Parameśvara—an inner discipline that purifies the mind and supports higher yoga.

Using the inclusive titles Parameśvara and Brahman, the verse frames the Supreme as one reality beyond sectarian limits, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where devotion and offering can be directed to the one Ishvara revered as Shiva or Vishnu.