Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

यः सर्वसङ्गनिर्मुक्तो निर्द्वन्द्वश्चैव निर्भयः / प्रोच्यते ज्ञानसंन्यासी स्वात्मन्येव व्यवस्थितः

Transliteration

yaḥ sarvasaṅganirmukto nirdvandvaścaiva nirbhayaḥ / procyate jñānasaṃnyāsī svātmanyeva vyavasthitaḥ

Translation

凡离一切执著，超越对待二相而真实无畏者，称为以智出离之人（jñāna-saṃnyāsin），唯安住于自性之我（Ātman）之中。

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्-प्रातिपदिक), Masculine, Nominative 1st, Singular

• सर्वसङ्गनिर्मुक्तः: freed from all attachments
• सर्वसङ्गनिर्मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + nir-√muc (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Compound: ‘sarva-saṅga’ (all attachments) + PPP ‘nirmukta’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of ‘यः’

• निर्द्वन्द्वः: free from dualities
• निर्द्वन्द्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- (उपसर्ग) + dvandva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘free from pairs of opposites’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- (उपसर्ग) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रोच्यते: is called, is said
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि-प्रयोग), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada form in passive

• ज्ञानसंन्यासी: a knowledge-renouncer
• ज्ञानसंन्यासी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃnyāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: ‘jñāna-saṃnyāsin’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate nominative

• स्वात्मनि: in one’s own Self
• स्वात्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: ‘sva-ātman’ (one’s own self); Masculine, Locative 7th, Singular

• एव: alone, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• व्यवस्थितः: steadfast, established
• व्यवस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ava-√sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna (Iśvara-Gītā teaching style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Jñāna
• Saṃnyāsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It defines true spiritual attainment as being “established in the Self alone,” indicating that realization is an inward abidance in Ātman rather than dependence on external supports like possessions, status, or ritual identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the yogic result of practice—vairāgya (dispassion), nirdvandva (equanimity), and nirbhayatā (fearlessness). In the Kurma Purana’s discipline-oriented framework, these arise through steady meditation on the Self and renunciatory discernment (jñāna) rather than mere outward abandonment.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: liberation is grounded in Self-knowledge and inner renunciation—principles shared across Śaiva (including Pāśupata-leaning) and Vaiṣṇava soteriology within the Kurma Purana.