Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

ये ऽन्ये च कामभोगार्थं यजन्ते ह्यन्यदेवताः / तेषां तदन्तं विज्ञेयं देवतानुगतं फलम्

Transliteration

ye 'nye ca kāmabhogārthaṃ yajante hyanyadevatāḥ / teṣāṃ tadantaṃ vijñeyaṃ devatānugataṃ phalam

Translation

至于那些为求欲乐与享受而祭拜他神者，当知其所得之果唯止于彼端：那果报随所礼敬之神而来，并随之而尽。

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• काम-भोग-अर्थम्: for the sake of desired enjoyments
• काम-भोग-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थम्-प्रयोगे अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणम्—‘कामभोगयोः अर्थम्’ (for the sake of pleasures and enjoyments)

• यजन्ते: worship/sacrifice to
• यजन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अन्य-देवताः: other deities
• अन्य-देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—अन्याः देवताः (other deities)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्-अन्तम्: ending in that (limited to that)
• तत्-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—तत् एव अन्तः यस्य (having that as its end/limit)

• विज्ञेयम्: should be understood/known
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive; -य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयार्थः—‘should be known’

• देवता-अनुगतम्: dependent on the deity (worshipped)
• देवता-अनुगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √गम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—देवताम् अनुगतम् (dependent on/according to the deity)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (here: subject complement with विज्ञेयम्)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• other devatas (deities)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By contrasting perishable, deity-specific rewards with higher liberation, the verse implies that the Atman’s fulfillment is not in finite pleasures but in the transcendent goal (moksha) taught in the Ishvara Gita.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Indirectly, it steers the seeker away from kama-driven ritualism toward disciplined sadhana—Pashupata-oriented devotion, inner restraint, and contemplation aimed at liberation rather than temporary enjoyments.

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

It supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: while devata-worship yields limited fruits, the Ishvara Gita points to the supreme liberating reality taught by Kurma, harmonizing Shaiva-Vaishnava aims in the pursuit of moksha.