Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 46

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

नापुत्रशिष्ययोगिभ्यो दद्यादिदमनुत्तमम् / ज्ञानं स्वयंभुवा प्रोक्तं यतिधर्माश्रयं शिवम्

Transliteration

nāputraśiṣyayogibhyo dadyādidamanuttamam / jñānaṃ svayaṃbhuvā proktaṃ yatidharmāśrayaṃ śivam

Translation

不可将此无上教法授予不堪为子、不堪为弟子、或非专一瑜伽行者之人。此乃自生者（Svayambhū，梵天 Brahmā）所宣说的吉祥智见，依止遁世之法，而归宿于湿婆（Śiva）。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• अपुत्रशिष्ययोगिभ्यः: from those who are not (one’s) son, disciple, or yogin
• अपुत्रशिष्ययोगिभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पुत्रशिष्ययोगिनः) + नञ्-पूर्वपद (अपुत्र-); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case, Ablative), बहुवचन; ‘from (those who are) non-sons, disciples, and yogins’ (i.e., from those other than son/disciple/yogin)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वयंभुवा: by Svayaṃbhū (Brahmā)
• स्वयंभुवा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंभू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: taught
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (spoken/taught)

• यतिधर्माश्रयम्: based on the dharma of ascetics
• यतिधर्माश्रयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यतिधर्मस्य आश्रयः/आश्रयम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ज्ञानम्)

• शिवम्: auspicious/beneficial
• शिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ज्ञानम्)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (within the Upari-bhāga’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis teaching stream).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhu (Brahma)
• Shiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberating knowledge (jñāna) as “anuttama” and “śivam”—supremely auspicious—and as something to be transmitted only to qualified recipients, implying that realization of the Self is sacred, transformative, and requires preparedness rather than mere curiosity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to eligibility through being a “yogin” and being established in “yati-dharma,” indicating a path aligned with Pāśupata-leaning discipline: restraint, renunciation, and committed practice under guidance, rather than casual learning.

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

Although spoken in a Vaiṣṇava narrative voice (Lord Kūrma), the knowledge is described as “resting in Śiva” (śivam / śivāśraya), reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva is affirmed as the auspicious ground of the highest teaching.