Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वावस्थासु सर्वदा / सर्वत्र मैथुनत्यागं ब्रह्मचर्यं प्रचक्षते

Transliteration

karmaṇā manasā vācā sarvāvasthāsu sarvadā / sarvatra maithunatyāgaṃ brahmacaryaṃ pracakṣate

Translation

他们宣说：梵行（brahmacarya）即以身、意、语，于一切处、一切时、一切境，皆舍离淫欲与交合。

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• सर्व-अवस्थासु: in all states/conditions
• सर्व-अवस्थासु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (pl.); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'in all conditions/states')

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• मैथुन-त्यागम्: renunciation of sexual intercourse
• मैथुन-त्यागम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'renunciation of sexual intercourse')

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: brahmacarya, celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: क्रिया-विशेष (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); here as predicate complement

• प्रचक्षते: they call/declare
• प्रचक्षते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita teachings

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Brahmacarya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By insisting on purity of action, thought, and speech, the verse points to inner mastery—turning the mind away from sense-impulses so awareness can rest in the Self-oriented (brahman-directed) discipline implied by brahmacarya.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights yama-like restraint (self-control) as a core yogic foundation: continuous vigilance over body, mind, and speech, with celibate restraint (maithuna-tyāga) supporting steadiness in practice central to Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita and Pashupata-aligned discipline.

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

Though not naming Shiva directly, the ethic of brahmacarya is shared across Shaiva-Pashupata and Vaishnava yoga frameworks; Lord Kurma teaches a universally Shaiva-Vaishnava-compatible discipline, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach.