Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 29

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

अविद्यामस्मितां रागं द्वेषं चाभिनिवेशकम् / क्लेशाख्यानचलान् प्राहुः पाशानात्मनिबन्धनान्

Transliteration

avidyāmasmitāṃ rāgaṃ dveṣaṃ cābhiniveśakam / kleśākhyānacalān prāhuḥ pāśānātmanibandhanān

Translation

无明、我慢（我执）、贪爱、嗔恚，以及对生命的执著——此五者被教为五种烦恼（kleśa），是不动的绳索（pāśa），由此真我而受系缚。

Word by Word

• अविद्याम्: ignorance
• अविद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• अस्मिताम्: ego-sense (I-am-ness)
• अस्मिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• रागम्: attachment
• रागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• द्वेषम्: aversion/hatred
• द्वेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अभिनिवेशकम्: clinging/tenacity (abhiniveśa)
• अभिनिवेशकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिनिवेशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• क्लेश-आख्यान-अचलान्: called ‘afflictions’, immovable/firm
• क्लेश-आख्यान-अचलान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (kleśa-ākhyāna + acala) विशेषण

• प्राहुः: they declare/call
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• पाशान्: nooses/bonds
• पाशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• आत्म-निबन्धनान्: binding the self
• आत्म-निबन्धनान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निबन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘of the self’ + binding) विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Ishvara Gita doctrine to the sages (in the Indradyumna-linked dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Jiva
• Kleshas
• Pasha (bondage)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Self is intrinsically free, yet appears bound when consciousness is entangled in the five kleśas—these function as pāśas (fetters) that fasten the jīva to saṁsāra until removed by right knowledge and Yoga.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to the classical Yoga task of klesha-kṣaya (attenuation of afflictions): uprooting avidyā and its derivatives through discernment (viveka), disciplined practice (abhyāsa), detachment (vairāgya), and Ishvara-oriented devotion consistent with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-inflected Yoga.

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

By using the shared Yoga-śāstra framework of kleśas and pāśa, the Kurma Purana harmonizes Vaishnava Ishvara-teaching (Kurma/Vishnu as guru) with Shaiva categories (pāśa-bondage and Pāśupata orientation), presenting liberation as one truth expressed through both streams.