Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

धर्मस्यायतनं यत्नाच्छरीरं परिपालयेत् / न हि देहं विना रुद्रः पुरुषैर्विद्यते परः

Transliteration

dharmasyāyatanaṃ yatnāccharīraṃ paripālayet / na hi dehaṃ vinā rudraḥ puruṣairvidyate paraḥ

Translation

既然此身是法（dharma）的住处与依托，就应当勤勉谨慎地护持；因为离开身体，人们便全然不能证知鲁陀罗（Rudra）——至上者。

Word by Word

• dharmasya: of dharma
• dharmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āyatanam: abode/support
• āyatanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyatana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here object-complement ‘abode’

• yatnāt: with effort
• yatnāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ablative used adverbially ‘with effort’

• śarīram: the body
• śarīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• paripālayet: should protect
• paripālayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √pāl (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; injunction ‘should protect’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• deham: body
• deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-निपात ‘without’ (governs accusative)

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• puruṣaiḥ: by men
• puruṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; agent/instrument in passive

• vidyate: is known/realized
• vidyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive) ‘is known’

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies ‘rudraḥ’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers in a Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Dharma
• Sharira (body)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that realization of the Supreme (here named Rudra as Para) is a lived, embodied attainment—dharma and God-realization are pursued through the body as the practical locus of sadhana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds the prerequisite of yogic discipline: maintaining the body (āhāra-vihāra-niyama, restraint, purity, steadiness) so that devotion, meditation, and Pāśupata-oriented worship can mature into realization.

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

With Kurma (a Vishnu form) teaching realization of Rudra as the Supreme, it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Para-tattva is spoken of through both Shaiva and Vaishnava names.