Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

नित्यं स्वाध्यायशीलः स्यान्नित्यं यज्ञोपवीतवान् / सत्यवादी जितक्रोधो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

Transliteration

nityaṃ svādhyāyaśīlaḥ syānnityaṃ yajñopavītavān / satyavādī jitakrodho brahmabhūyāya kalpate

Translation

ينبغي للمرء أن يلازم السوادهيایا (التلاوة والدراسة المقدّسة) دائمًا، وأن يلبس خيط الياجنوپڤيتا المقدّس على الدوام؛ صادقَ القول، قاهرًا للغضب—فمثلُه يَصلح لمرتبة البراهميّة، حالة الاتحاد ببراهْمان.

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always’

• स्वाध्याय-शीलः: habitually devoted to self-study
• स्वाध्याय-शीलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective): ‘one whose nature is self-study’

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always’

• यज्ञोपवीत-वान्: wearing the sacred thread
• यज्ञोपवीत-वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञोपवीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘possessed of the sacred thread’ (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• सत्य-वादी: truthful (truth-speaking)
• सत्य-वादी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘truth-speaking’

• जित-क्रोधः: having conquered anger
• जित-क्रोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि धातु) + क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘one whose anger is conquered’

• ब्रह्म-भूयाय: for attaining Brahmanhood
• ब्रह्म-भूयाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान: ‘for Brahman-state’

• कल्पते: is fit / becomes qualified
• कल्पते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and spiritual qualification

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (brahma-bhūya)
• Veda (svādhyāya)
• Yajñopavīta (sacred thread)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames brahmahood as a realizable state: by purification through truth, self-discipline, and sacred study, one becomes qualified for Brahman-realization rather than treating it as merely theoretical.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes preparatory yogic disciplines: svādhyāya (scriptural recitation and contemplative study) and krodha-jaya (mastery over anger), which stabilize the mind and support higher meditation and devotion.

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

It presents a non-sectarian path where ethical restraint and sacred discipline lead to brahmahood—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis in which ultimate realization transcends sectarian identity while honoring both Shaiva and Vaishnava frameworks.