Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

वेदोदितं स्वकं कर्म नित्यं कुर्यादतन्द्रितः / अकुर्वाणः पतत्याशु नरकानतिभीषणान्

Transliteration

vedoditaṃ svakaṃ karma nityaṃ kuryādatandritaḥ / akurvāṇaḥ patatyāśu narakānatibhīṣaṇān

Translation

ينبغي للمرء أن يؤدي دائمًا، بلا توانٍ، عمله الخاص كما أمرت به الفيدا. ومن تركه سقط سريعًا في جحيمات شديدة الهول.

Word by Word

• वेदोदितम्: enjoined by the Veda
• वेदोदितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + उदित (कृदन्त; √इ/उद्-इ ‘to arise’ past passive participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण—‘वेदेन उदितम्/विहितम्’

• स्वकम्: one’s own
• स्वकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied/without negligence
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• अकुर्वाणः: not doing (it)
• अकुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वकः (negated)

• पतति: falls
• पतति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अतिभीषणान्: very terrible
• अतिभीषणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; नरकान्-विशेषण

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching section (didactic voice attributed to the Purana’s instructive discourse, commonly framed as Lord Kurma’s guidance to sages/Indradyumna in the broader dialogue tradition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by insisting on disciplined, Veda-guided action, it supports purification of conduct (citta-śuddhi), which is treated in the Kurma tradition as a necessary basis for realizing the Self beyond karma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes the yogic prerequisite of apramāda (non-negligence) and steady observance of nitya-karma; in Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such discipline supports later contemplative practice, including Shaiva-Vaishnava aligned yoga and devotion.

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

Not explicitly; it presents a shared dharma foundation—Vedic injunction and disciplined action—upon which the Purana’s later Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis (including Ishvara-centered yoga) is built.