Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

न धर्मं ख्यापयेद् विद्वान् न पापं गूहयेदपि / कुर्वोतात्महितं नित्यं सर्वभूतानिकम्पकः

Transliteration

na dharmaṃ khyāpayed vidvān na pāpaṃ gūhayedapi / kurvotātmahitaṃ nityaṃ sarvabhūtānikampakaḥ

Translation

智者不应张扬自身之德，亦不应隐匿罪过。应恒常为自性的真实利益而行，并以悲悯之心怜念一切众生。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• धर्मम्: (one’s) virtue/duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ख्यापयेत्: should proclaim/make known
• ख्यापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्यापय् (धातु; √ख्यै causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative)

• विद्वान्: a wise man
• विद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-शब्द used as agent noun

• न: not
• न: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गूहयेत्: should conceal
• गूहयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गूह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्महितम्: one’s own good
• आत्महितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आत्मनः हितम्’ = one’s own welfare

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• सर्वभूत-अनिकम्पकः: compassionate to all beings
• सर्वभूत-अनिकम्पकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकम्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वेषां भूतानां अनुकम्पकः’ = compassionate to all beings

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a dharma-teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Dharma
• Sarvabhuta (all beings)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By urging “ātmahita” (the Self’s true welfare), the verse points to an inner standard of good beyond social display—conduct aligned with the deeper Self, not mere reputation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes ethical discipline akin to yama-niyama: humility (not advertising virtue), truthfulness/accountability (not concealing wrongdoing), and compassion to all beings—foundational supports for Pashupata-oriented and broader Yoga practice in the Kurma Purana.

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

While not naming them directly, the teaching reflects the Kurma Purana’s shared Shaiva-Vaishnava ethic: inner purity, truthful responsibility, and universal compassion—virtues upheld across both traditions rather than sectarian difference.