Kurma Purana — Purva Vibhaga — Chapter 3
KuP 1 3.1
ऋषय ऊचुः वर्णा भगवतोद्दिष्टाश्चत्वारो ऽप्याश्रमास्तथा । इदानीं क्रममस्माकमाश्रमाणां वद प्रभो
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ varṇā bhagavatoddiṣṭāścatvāro 'pyāśramāstathā / idānīṃ kramamasmākamāśramāṇāṃ vada prabho
The seers said: The four classes have been set forth by the Lord, and the stages of life as well. Now tell us, O Lord, the order of the stages of life.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.2
श्रीकूर्म उवाच ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थो यतिस्तथा । क्रमेणैवाश्रमाः प्रोक्ताः कारणादन्यथा भवेत्
śrīkūrma uvāca brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprastho yatistathā / krameṇaivāśramāḥ proktāḥ kāraṇādanyathā bhavet
Śrī Kūrma said: The student, the householder, the forest-dweller and likewise the renouncer — the stages of life have been declared in just this sequence; for a (special) reason it may be otherwise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.3
उत्पन्नज्ञानविज्ञानो वैराग्यं परमं गतः । प्रव्रजेद् ब्रह्मचर्यात् तु यदिच्छेत् परमां गतिम्
utpannajñānavijñāno vairāgyaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ / pravrajed brahmacaryāt tu yadicchet paramāṃ gatim
One in whom knowledge and discernment have arisen, and who has reached the highest dispassion, may go forth (into renunciation) directly from studentship, if he desires the supreme goal.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.4
दारानाहृत्य विधिवदन्यथा विविधैर्मखैः । यजेदुत्पादयेत् पुत्रान् विरक्तो यदि संन्यसेत्
dārānāhṛtya vidhivadanyathā vividhairmakhaiḥ / yajedutpādayet putrān virakto yadi saṃnyaset
Otherwise, having taken a wife according to the rule, he should sacrifice with the various sacrifices and beget sons; if he becomes dispassionate, then he may renounce.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.5
अनिष्ट्वा विधिवद् यज्ञैरनुत्पाद्य तथात्मजम् । नगार्हस्थ्यं गृहीत्यक्त्वा संन्यसेद् बुद्धिमान् द्विजः
aniṣṭvā vidhivad yajñairanutpādya tathātmajam / nagārhasthyaṃ gṛhītyaktvā saṃnyased buddhimān dvijaḥ
Without having sacrificed with sacrifices according to rule, and without having begotten a son, the intelligent twice-born should not renounce, having (merely) taken up household life and abandoned it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
KuP 1 3.6
अथ वैराग्यवेगेन स्थातुं नोत्सहते गृहे । तत्रैव संन्यसेद् विद्वाननिष्ट्वापि द्विजोत्तमः
atha vairāgyavegena sthātuṃ notsahate gṛhe / tatraiva saṃnyased vidvānaniṣṭvāpi dvijottamaḥ
But if, through the force of dispassion, he cannot bear to remain in the house, then the learned, best of the twice-born, may renounce then and there, even without having sacrificed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.7
अन्यथा विविधैर्यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा वनमथाक्षयेत् । तपस्तप्त्वा तपोयोगाद् विरक्तः संन्यसेद् यदि
anyathā vividhairyajñairiṣṭvā vanamathākṣayet / tapastaptvā tapoyogād viraktaḥ saṃnyased yadi
Otherwise, having sacrificed with the various sacrifices, he should then resort to the forest; having practised austerity, if he becomes dispassionate through the yoga of austerity, he may renounce.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.8
वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गत्वा न गृहं प्रविशेत् पुनः । न संन्यासी वनं चाथ ब्रह्माचर्यं न साधकः
vānaprasthāśramaṃ gatvā na gṛhaṃ praviśet punaḥ / na saṃnyāsī vanaṃ cātha brahmācaryaṃ na sādhakaḥ
Having gone to the stage of the forest-dweller, one should not enter the house again; nor should a renouncer (go back) to the forest, nor an aspirant to studentship.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.9
प्राजापत्यां निरूप्येष्टिमाग्नेयीमथवा द्विजः । प्रव्रजेत गृही विद्वान् वनाद् वा श्रुतिचोदनात्
prājāpatyāṃ nirūpyeṣṭimāgneyīmathavā dvijaḥ / pravrajeta gṛhī vidvān vanād vā śruticodanāt
Having offered the sacrifice to Prajāpati, or else that to Agni, the learned twice-born householder may go forth, or (may go forth) from the forest, on the injunction of scripture.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.10
प्रकर्तुमसमर्थो ऽपि जुहोतियजतिक्रियाः । अन्धः पङ्गुर्दरिद्रो वा विरक्तः संन्यसेद् द्विजः
prakartumasamartho 'pi juhotiyajatikriyāḥ / andhaḥ paṅgurdaridro vā viraktaḥ saṃnyased dvijaḥ
Even one unable to perform the acts of oblation and sacrifice — blind, or lame, or poor — such a twice-born, being dispassionate, may renounce.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.11
सर्वेषामेव वैराग्यं संन्यासाय विधीयते । पतत्येवाविरक्तो यः संन्यासं कर्तुमिच्छति
sarveṣāmeva vairāgyaṃ saṃnyāsāya vidhīyate / patatyevāvirakto yaḥ saṃnyāsaṃ kartumicchati
For all alike, dispassion is enjoined as the condition for renunciation; one who, not being dispassionate, wishes to take up renunciation, simply falls.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.12
एकस्मिन्नथवा सम्यग् वर्तेतामरणं द्विजः । श्रद्धावनाश्रमे युक्तः सो ऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते
ekasminnathavā samyag vartetāmaraṇaṃ dvijaḥ / śraddhāvanāśrame yuktaḥ so 'mṛtatvāya kalpate
Or else the twice-born may live rightly in a single stage of life until death; faithful and steadfast in his stage of life, he is fit for immortality.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.13
न्यायागतधनः शान्तो ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः । स्वधर्मपालको नित्यं सो ऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते
nyāyāgatadhanaḥ śānto brahmavidyāparāyaṇaḥ / svadharmapālako nityaṃ so 'mṛtatvāya kalpate
He whose wealth is justly acquired, who is calm, devoted to the knowledge of Brahman, and always a guardian of his own duty — he is fit for immortality.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.14
ब्रह्मण्याधाय क्रमाणि निःसङ्गः कामवर्जितः । प्रसन्नेनैव मनसा कुर्वाणो याति तत्पदम्
brahmaṇyādhāya kramāṇi niḥsaṅgaḥ kāmavarjitaḥ / prasannenaiva manasā kurvāṇo yāti tatpadam
Placing (his) actions in Brahman, unattached, free from desire, performing (them) with a serene mind, he goes to that state.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.15
ब्रह्मणा दीयते देयं ब्रह्मणे संप्रदीयते । ब्रह्मैव दीयते चेति ब्रह्मार्पणमिदं परम्
brahmaṇā dīyate deyaṃ brahmaṇe saṃpradīyate / brahmaiva dīyate ceti brahmārpaṇamidaṃ param
What is to be given is given by Brahman, it is bestowed upon Brahman, and it is Brahman alone that is given — this is the supreme offering to Brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.16
नाहं कर्ता सर्वमेतद् ब्रह्मैव कुरुते तथा । एतद् ब्रह्मार्पणं प्रोक्तमृषिभिः तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
nāhaṃ kartā sarvametad brahmaiva kurute tathā / etad brahmārpaṇaṃ proktamṛṣibhiḥ tattvadarśibhiḥ
"I am not the doer; Brahman alone does all this" — this is declared to be the offering to Brahman by the seers who behold reality.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.17
प्रीणातु भगवानीशः कर्मणानेन शाश्वतः । करोति सततं बुद्ध्या ब्रह्मार्पणमिदं परम्
prīṇātu bhagavānīśaḥ karmaṇānena śāśvataḥ / karoti satataṃ buddhyā brahmārpaṇamidaṃ param
"May the eternal Lord, the Blessed One, be pleased by this act" — (he who) performs (action) constantly with this understanding, this is the supreme offering to Brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.18
यद्वा फलानां संन्यासं प्रकुर्यात् परमेश्वरे । कर्मणामेतदप्याहुः ब्रह्मार्पणमनुत्तमम्
yadvā phalānāṃ saṃnyāsaṃ prakuryāt parameśvare / karmaṇāmetadapyāhuḥ brahmārpaṇamanuttamam
Or else he should make a renunciation of the fruits (of his actions) unto the Supreme Lord; this too they call the unsurpassed offering of actions to Brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.19
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं सङ्गवर्जितम् । क्रियते विदुषा कर्म तद्भवेदपि मोक्षदम्
kāryamityeva yatkarma niyataṃ saṅgavarjitam / kriyate viduṣā karma tadbhavedapi mokṣadam
That prescribed action which is done simply as "it is to be done," free from attachment — such action, done by one who knows, can even be a giver of liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.20
अन्यथा यदि कर्माणि कुर्यान्नित्यमपि द्विजः । अकृत्वा फलसंन्यासं बध्यते तत्फलेन तु
anyathā yadi karmāṇi kuryānnityamapi dvijaḥ / akṛtvā phalasaṃnyāsaṃ badhyate tatphalena tu
Otherwise, if a twice-born performs the acts even regularly, without having made renunciation of the fruit, he is bound by that fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.21
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन त्यक्त्वा कर्माश्रितं फलम् । अविद्वानपि कुर्वोत कर्माप्नोत्यचिरात् पदम्
tasmāt sarvaprayatnena tyaktvā karmāśritaṃ phalam / avidvānapi kurvota karmāpnotyacirāt padam
Therefore, abandoning with every effort the fruit that clings to action, even one who is not learned, if he performs action, quickly attains that state.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.22
कर्मणा क्षीयते पापमैहिकं पौर्विकं तथा । मनः प्रसादमन्वेति ब्रह्म विज्ञायते ततः
karmaṇā kṣīyate pāpamaihikaṃ paurvikaṃ tathā / manaḥ prasādamanveti brahma vijñāyate tataḥ
By action, sin — both that of this life and that of former (lives) — is worn away; serenity of mind follows, and from that Brahman is known.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.23
कर्मणा सहिताज्ज्ञानात् सम्यग् योगो ऽबिजायते । ज्ञानं च कर्मसहितं जायते दोषवर्जितम्
karmaṇā sahitājjñānāt samyag yogo 'bijāyate / jñānaṃ ca karmasahitaṃ jāyate doṣavarjitam
From knowledge joined with action right yoga is born, and knowledge joined with action arises free of fault.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.24
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन तत्र तत्राश्रमे रतः । कर्माणीश्वरतुष्ट्यर्थं कुर्यान्नैष्कर्म्यमाप्नुयात्
tasmāt sarvaprayatnena tatra tatrāśrame rataḥ / karmāṇīśvaratuṣṭyarthaṃ kuryānnaiṣkarmyamāpnuyāt
Therefore, with every effort, delighting in whichever stage of life (one is in), one should perform actions for the pleasing of the Lord; (thus) one would attain freedom from action.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.25
संप्राप्य परमं ज्ञानं नैष्कर्म्यं तत्प्रसादतः । एकाकी निर्ममः शान्तो जीवन्नेव विमुच्यते
saṃprāpya paramaṃ jñānaṃ naiṣkarmyaṃ tatprasādataḥ / ekākī nirmamaḥ śānto jīvanneva vimucyate
Having obtained supreme knowledge and freedom from action by His grace, solitary, without the sense of "mine," at peace, he is liberated even while living.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.26
वीक्षते परमात्मानं परं ब्रह्म महेश्वरम् । नित्यानन्दं निराभासं तस्मिन्नेव लयं व्रजेत्
vīkṣate paramātmānaṃ paraṃ brahma maheśvaram / nityānandaṃ nirābhāsaṃ tasminneva layaṃ vrajet
He beholds the supreme Self, the highest Brahman, the Great Lord, eternal bliss, without appearance; in Him alone he would go to dissolution.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.27
तस्मात् सेवेत सततं कर्मयोगं प्रसन्नधीः । तृप्तये परमेशस्य तत् पदं याति शाश्वतम्
tasmāt seveta satataṃ karmayogaṃ prasannadhīḥ / tṛptaye parameśasya tat padaṃ yāti śāśvatam
Therefore, with a serene mind, one should constantly practise the yoga of action for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord; (such a one) goes to that everlasting state.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
KuP 1 3.28
एतद् वः सथितं सर्वं चातुराश्रम्यमुत्तमम् । न ह्येतत् समतिक्रम्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः
etad vaḥ sathitaṃ sarvaṃ cāturāśramyamuttamam / na hyetat samatikramya siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ
All this excellent system of the four stages of life has been declared to you; for a man who transgresses it does not find perfection.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition