Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकूर्म उवाच ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थो यतिस्तथा / क्रमेणैवाश्रमाः प्रोक्ताः कारणादन्यथा भवेत्

Transliteration

śrīkūrma uvāca brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprastho yatistathā / krameṇaivāśramāḥ proktāḥ kāraṇādanyathā bhavet

Translation

圣龟摩（Śrī Kūrma）说道：四种住期（āśrama）依次宣说——梵行期（brahmacarya，学道之身）、家住期（gṛhastha，居家奉法）、林栖期（vānaprastha，退居林间）、以及游行出离者（yati/saṃnyāsa，舍世修道）。唯有具足正当因缘，方可不循此序。

Word by Word

• श्रीकूर्मः: Lord Kūrma
• श्रीकूर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—श्री + कूर्म (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मचारी: a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• गृहस्थः: a householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वानप्रस्थः: a forest-dweller (vānaprastha)
• वानप्रस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यतिः: an ascetic (yati)
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• क्रमेण: in order, sequentially
• क्रमेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial instrumental)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आश्रमाः: the āśramas (stages of life)
• आश्रमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are declared/said
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• कारणात्: from/for a reason
• कारणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma
• Brahmacārī
• Gṛhastha
• Vānaprastha
• Yati

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames spiritual realization as grounded in dharma: regulated life-stages purify the mind, making one fit for Self-knowledge and liberation, which later teachings connect with devotion and yogic discipline.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the preparatory discipline for Yoga—brahmacarya, household responsibilities, gradual withdrawal, and renunciation—supporting steadiness (niyama) and inner purification that culminate in sustained meditation typical of Purāṇic Yoga teaching.

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

By presenting dharma as a universal ladder toward liberation, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis: the same disciplined path supports devotion and Yoga directed to the Supreme Lord, revered as Hari and also approached through Shaiva-Pāśupata frameworks.