Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 127

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

पठित्वाध्यायमेवैकं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते / योर्ऽथं विचारयेत् सम्यक् स प्राप्नोति परं पदम्

Transliteration

paṭhitvādhyāyamevaikaṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate / yor'thaṃ vicārayet samyak sa prāpnoti paraṃ padam

Translation

纵使只诵读一章，亦能解脱诸罪；而能如理观照其义者，必得至上之境。

Word by Word

• पठित्वा: having recited
• पठित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• अध्यायम्: a chapter/lesson
• अध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (Accusative) एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन; अध्यायम् इति विशेषणम्

• सर्वपापैः: from all sins
• सर्वपापैः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः: सर्वाणि पापानि); नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (Instrumental) बहुवचन

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present) प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is released)

• योः: of which (two)/whose
• योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (Genitive/Locative dual); सम्बन्धसूचकः; (योः अर्थम् = whose meaning/of which two)

• अर्थम्: meaning
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (Accusative) एकवचन

• विचारयेत्: should reflect upon
• विचारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√चर् (धातु) (कारय-प्रयोगः)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच् (causative) अर्थे ‘विचारयति’ (to reflect/consider)

• सम्यक्: properly, thoroughly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (Nominative) एकवचन

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present) प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (Accusative) एकवचन; पदम् इति विशेषणम्

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (Accusative) एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (within the Kurma Purana discourse tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Paramam Padam

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that liberation is not merely ritual merit from recitation, but realization born of correct inquiry into meaning—pointing to the supreme goal (paraṁ padam) as a state reached through understanding.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights svādhyāya (scriptural study) and vicāra/manana (disciplined reflection). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic frame, this supports inner purification and steady contemplation that culminates in liberation.

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

By emphasizing contemplation leading to the supreme state rather than sectarian markers, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the highest goal is one, approached through dharma, study, and inner realization honored in both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava currents.