Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

देवताभ्यर्चनं कुर्यात् पुष्पैः पत्रेण वाम्बुभिः / अभिवादनशीलः स्यान्नित्यं वृद्धेषु धर्मतः

Transliteration

devatābhyarcanaṃ kuryāt puṣpaiḥ patreṇa vāmbubhiḥ / abhivādanaśīlaḥ syānnityaṃ vṛddheṣu dharmataḥ

Translation

وليقم بعبادة الآلهة بالزهور أو الأوراق أو حتى بالماء. ووفقًا للدارما، فليكن مواظبًا على التحية الموقِّرة دائمًا، ولا سيما تجاه الشيوخ والكبار.

Word by Word

• devatā-abhyarcanam: worship of the deities
• devatā-abhyarcanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyarcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘worship of deities’; object of ‘kuryāt’

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrument

• patreṇa: with a leaf
• patreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrument

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्प)

• ambubhiḥ: with water
• ambubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrument

• abhivādana-śīlaḥ: habitually saluting (elders)
• abhivādana-śīlaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhivādana (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘having the habit of salutation’; predicate adjective

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vṛddheṣu: towards/among elders
• vṛddheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; locative ‘among/with respect to elders’

• dharmataḥ: according to dharma, rightly
• dharmataḥ: Hetu/vidhi-bodhaka (विधिबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Tasil-anta avyaya (तसिलन्त अव्यय) meaning ‘according to dharma’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and daily worship

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ (the deities)
• Vṛddha (elders)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic discipline—worship and humility—which purifies the mind and supports inner realization, a prerequisite for knowing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory practice (ācāra) for Yoga: regular deva-arcana (devotional worship) and cultivation of humility through honoring elders—foundational qualities that steady the mind for higher Shaiva-Vaishnava sādhanā.

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

By prescribing deva-arcana without sectarian limitation, it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: worship of the divine is upheld as dharma across forms, aligning with Shaiva-Vaishnava unity in practice.