Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Saṃnyāsa-dharma — Qualifications, Threefold Renunciation, and the Conduct of the Yati

Devanagari script

यज्ञोपवीती शान्तात्मा कुशपाणिः समाहितः / धौतकाषायवसनो भस्मच्छन्नतनूरहः

Transliteration

yajñopavītī śāntātmā kuśapāṇiḥ samāhitaḥ / dhautakāṣāyavasano bhasmacchannatanūrahaḥ

Translation

他佩戴圣线（yajñopavīta），心神寂静，手持库沙草（kuśa），专注摄心；身着洗净的赭色法衣，身与发皆覆以圣灰（bhasma）。

Word by Word

• yajñopavītī: wearing the sacred thread
• yajñopavītī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yajñopavītin (प्रातिपदिक; yajña+upavīta)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘यज्ञोपवीतधारी’

• śānta-ātmā: of tranquil mind
• śānta-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāntātman (प्रातिपदिक; śānta+ātman)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘शान्तः आत्मा यस्य’

• kuśa-pāṇiḥ: holding kuśa grass in hand
• kuśa-pāṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśapāṇi (प्रातिपदिक; kuśa+pāṇi)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘कुशं पाणौ यस्य’

• samāhitaḥ: composed, concentrated
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘समाहित’ = collected/intent

• dhauta-kāṣāya-vasanaḥ: wearing washed ochre garments
• dhauta-kāṣāya-vasanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhauta+kāṣāya+vasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘धौतं काषायवसनं यस्य’

• bhasma-channa-tanū-rahaḥ: whose body is covered with ash
• bhasma-channa-tanū-rahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma+channa+tanū+rahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘भस्मना छन्ना तनूः (देहः) यस्य’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma-yoga and ascetic observances

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa grass
• Yajñopavīta (sacred thread)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Kāṣāya (ochre cloth)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing śāntātmā and samāhitaḥ, the verse points to inner stillness and collected awareness as the practical doorway to realizing the Atman beyond outward identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory yogic discipline: mental composure (samāhita), serenity (śāntātmā), and regulated ascetic conduct—supporting dhyāna and mantra-ritual practice associated with Pāśupata-leaning observances.

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

The markers like bhasma and kāṣāya are strongly Shaiva-ascetic in flavor, yet presented within Kūrma (Vishnu)’s instruction—showing the Purana’s integrative stance where Vaishnava teaching authorizes Shaiva-yogic discipline.