Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 93

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

स्वधर्मपरमो नित्यमीश्विरार्पितमानसः / प्राप्नोति तत् परं स्थानं यदुक्तं वेदवादिभिः

Transliteration

svadharmaparamo nityamīśvirārpitamānasaḥ / prāpnoti tat paraṃ sthānaṃ yaduktaṃ vedavādibhiḥ

Translation

恒常以自法（svadharma）为最上，且以心奉献归投于自在主Īśvara者，必得至诸说吠陀之师所宣示的至上住处。

Word by Word

• sva-dharma-paramaḥ: devoted to one’s own duty
• sva-dharma-paramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: svadharme paramaḥ = devoted/supreme in one’s own duty

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (adverbial accusative)

• īśvara-arpita-mānasaḥ: whose mind is dedicated to the Lord
• īśvara-arpita-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + arpita (कृदन्त, √arp/√ṛp 'to offer') + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: īśvare arpitaṃ mānasaṃ yasya = whose mind is offered to the Lord

• prāpnoti: attains
• prāpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (प्र√आप्, धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; demonstrative qualifying sthānam

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifying sthānam

• sthānam: abode/state
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (relative pronoun), Ekavacana; here agreeing with uktaṃ (neut.)

• uktam: is said
• uktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (√वच्, धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicative with yat

• veda-vādibhiḥ: by the Veda-speakers (authorities)
• veda-vādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: vedān vādanti iti = those who speak the Veda

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita-style teaching in the Upari-bhaga context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara
• Veda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the highest goal as the “supreme abode” affirmed by Vedic authorities, reached not by abandoning action but by performing svadharma with the mind offered to Īśvara—pointing to liberation as a realized state grounded in Vedic wisdom.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Karma-Yoga through svadharma and inner surrender (īśvarārpaṇa of the mind). The practice is continual dedication of intention to the Lord, aligning action with devotion and yogic discipline.

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

By using the inclusive term Īśvara and grounding the teaching in Vedic authority, it supports the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the supreme goal is attained through devotion to the one Lord (Īśvara), beyond sectarian division.