Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

कथं भवद्भिरुदितं स्वभार्यापोषणोत्सुकैः / त्यक्तव्या मम भार्येति धर्मज्ञैः शान्तमानसैः

Transliteration

kathaṃ bhavadbhiruditaṃ svabhāryāpoṣaṇotsukaiḥ / tyaktavyā mama bhāryeti dharmajñaiḥ śāntamānasaiḥ

Translation

你们既殷勤供养各自的妻室，又是知法而心寂静之人，怎能说出“我的妻子应当被舍弃”这样的话？

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative adverb) — ‘how?’

• भवद्भिः: by you
• भवद्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural) — ‘by you (hon.)’

• उदितम्: uttered/said
• उदितम्: क्रियाविशेषण/भाव (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु) / उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘said/uttered’ (impersonal)

• स्व-भार्या-पोषण-उत्सुकैः: by those eager to support their own wives
• स्व-भार्या-पोषण-उत्सुकैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of भवद्भिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पोषण (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वभार्यायाः पोषणम् इति, तस्मिन् उत्सुकाः) — ‘eager to maintain one’s own wife’

• त्यक्तव्या: should be abandoned
• त्यक्तव्या: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत् (Gerundive/Obligative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘to be abandoned/should be abandoned’

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘my’

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic of obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus/‘that’
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle) — end of quotation

• धर्म-ज्ञैः: by the dharma-knowing
• धर्म-ज्ञैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of भवद्भिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः — ‘knowers of dharma’

• शान्त-मानसैः: by the calm-minded
• शान्त-मानसैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of भवद्भिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः — ‘with calm minds’

Speaker

A questioner in the dialogue (a dharma-focused interlocutor addressing sages/elders); exact named speaker not explicit from the single verse excerpt

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily ethical rather than metaphysical: it stresses steadiness in dharma and a calm mind (śānta-manas) as the basis for right conduct, which in the Purāṇic framework supports inner purification that later enables clearer realization of Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught here, but the verse highlights śānta-manas (mental tranquility), a core yogic prerequisite; in Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such calm supports disciplined living (niyama) and steadiness needed for higher practices like Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s synthesis where devotion and yoga rest on dharmic conduct—ethical household responsibility is treated as compatible with the wider Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava spiritual path.