Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

नित्यधर्मार्थकामेषु युज्येत नियतो द्विजः / न धर्मवर्जितं काममर्थं वा मनसा स्मरेत्

Transliteration

nityadharmārthakāmeṣu yujyeta niyato dvijaḥ / na dharmavarjitaṃ kāmamarthaṃ vā manasā smaret

Translation

守戒的二次生者应恒常致力于法（dharma）、利（artha）与欲（kāma）；心中亦不应起任何离法之欲，或离法求财之念。

Word by Word

• nitya-dharma-artha-kāmeṣu: in (pursuits of) daily duty, righteousness, wealth, desire
• nitya-dharma-artha-kāmeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya + dharma + artha + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर) ‘in (matters of) nitya, dharma, artha, kāma’

• yujyeta: should engage
• yujyeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should engage/apply oneself’

• niyataḥ: disciplined
• niyataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies dvijaḥ

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• dharma-varjitam: devoid of dharma
• dharma-varjitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + varjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (varjita ‘excluded’), तत्पुरुष ‘devoid of dharma’ qualifying kāmam/artham

• kāmam: desire/pleasure
• kāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• artham: wealth/aim
• artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘in/with the mind’

• smaret: should think of
• smaret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should think/remember’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma (Kurma Purana discourse style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Artha
• Kama
• Dvija

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that even mental intention must be purified by dharma, implying an inner ruler (ātman) best approached through disciplined, dharma-aligned thought and action rather than impulse.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes niyama-like discipline and mental restraint (manasa-śuddhi): not merely controlling actions, but refusing to dwell on adharma-based desires—an ethical prerequisite for higher Yoga and Pashupata-style inner purification.

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

By grounding spiritual life in dharma-first discipline, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: devotion and liberation—whether framed through Shiva’s Pashupata path or Vishnu’s instruction—begin with the same dharmic purification.