Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 72

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

नीहारे बाणशब्दे च संध्ययोरुभयोरपि / अमावास्यां चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यष्टमीषु च

Transliteration

nīhāre bāṇaśabde ca saṃdhyayorubhayorapi / amāvāsyāṃ caturdaśyāṃ paurṇamāsyaṣṭamīṣu ca

Translation

في أوقات الضباب الكثيف، وعند سماع صوت السهم المشؤوم، وفي وقتي الشفق كليهما، وكذلك في يوم الأَمَاوَاسْيَا (المحاق)، وفي اليوم الرابع عشر، ويوم البدر، وفي أيام الأَشْتَمِي (اليوم الثامن)—ينبغي التزام التحفّظ والاحتياط الطقسي.

Word by Word

• nīhāre: in fog/mist
• nīhāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• bāṇa-śabde: at the sound of arrows
• bāṇa-śabde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; तत्पुरुष = 'sound of arrows'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• saṃdhyayoḥ: at the two twilights
• saṃdhyayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Dual

• ubhayayoḥ: both
• ubhayayoḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Dual; adjective qualifying saṃdhyayoḥ

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (समुच्चय/अपि = 'also/even')

• amāvāsyām: on new-moon day
• amāvāsyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amāvāsyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth lunar day
• caturdaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• paurṇamāsyām: on full-moon day
• paurṇamāsyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paurṇamāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• aṣṭamīṣu: on the eighth lunar days
• aṣṭamīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma/time-discipline (kāla-niyama)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Sandhya (dawn/dusk)
• Amavasya
• Purnima
• Ashtami
• Chaturdashi

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing restraint at liminal or potent times (sandhyā, amāvāsyā, etc.), it supports the yogic-dharmic idea that steadiness of conduct purifies the mind, making it fit to recognize the Atman beyond changing time and omens.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Time-discipline (kāla-niyama) and sandhyā-related restraint—practices aligned with purification (śauca) and self-control (yama/niyama). Such regulation is presented as supportive of Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner steadiness.

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

By teaching dharma through Kurma (Vishnu) using Shaiva-leaning yogic vocabulary of restraint and purity, the text models the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: one disciplined dharma-yoga serves the same Supreme Reality honored as Hari or Hara.