Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

कदाचिद् वसता तत्र व्यासेनामिततेजसा / भ्रममाणेन भिक्षा तु नैव लब्धा द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

kadācid vasatā tatra vyāsenāmitatejasā / bhramamāṇena bhikṣā tu naiva labdhā dvijottamāḥ

Translation

有一次，光辉无量的圣者毗耶娑住在彼处，虽四处行乞求施，却竟得不到一口食物——噢，最胜的二次生者。

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• कदाचित्: कालाधिकरण (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वसता: while dwelling/residing
• वसता: कर्ता (Agent, instrumental of attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्गे (instrumental singular masc.)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अमिततेजसा: of immeasurable splendor
• अमिततेजसा: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘व्यासेन’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-तेजस्-शब्दः; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (instrumental singular neuter used adjectivally)

• भ्रममाणेन: while wandering
• भ्रममाणेन: कर्ता (Agent, attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्गे (instrumental singular masc.)

• भिक्षा: alms
• भिक्षा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थक

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• एव: indeed, at all
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• लब्धा: obtained
• लब्धा: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘भिक्षा’ विशेषणम् (past passive participle agreeing with bhikṣā)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमाः: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते (nominative plural, used as address)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana-sūta style), addressing the assembled brāhmaṇas/sages (dvijottamāḥ)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to the Purāṇic teaching that outer conditions—such as gain or loss of alms—do not define the sage’s inner steadiness; the Self remains untouched while the practitioner endures worldly fluctuation with equanimity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the ascetic discipline allied to yoga—living simply, wandering without entitlement, and accepting outcomes without agitation—supporting steadiness of mind (dharma-based restraint) that undergirds higher contemplation taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

This specific verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, its dharma-ascetic ethic aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where disciplined conduct and renunciation are shared foundations for realizing the one supreme reality.