Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 38
Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge
यस्तु सम्यगिममाश्रमं शिवं संश्रयेदशिवपुञ्जनाशनम् / तापसः स परमैश्वरं पदं याति यत्र जगतो ऽस्य संस्थितिः
yastu samyagimamāśramaṃ śivaṃ saṃśrayedaśivapuñjanāśanam / tāpasaḥ sa paramaiśvaraṃ padaṃ yāti yatra jagato 'sya saṃsthitiḥ
然而，苦行者若如法归依此吉祥的湿婆住林（Śiva-āśrama）——能摧毁积聚的不祥之堆——便得至至上主宰之境，帕拉迈湿伐罗之所；此宇宙之安住，正以彼处为根基。
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the highest goal as the “Paramaiśvara pada,” a supreme Lordly state/abode that underlies the universe’s very continuance—implying the ultimate Reality is the sustaining ground of all existence, attainable through purified refuge and discipline.
The verse emphasizes sādhana through tapas (austerity) and samyak-āśraya (right refuge) in the Śiva-āśrama—i.e., disciplined life in a sanctified setting aligned with Pāśupata-oriented purification that destroys accumulated aśiva (inauspicious karmic burdens).
With Lord Kūrma as the teacher pointing to the “Paramaiśvara” goal, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Viṣṇu affirms Śiva’s salvific refuge and the supreme state associated with the Great Lord.