Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

विभागशीलः सततं क्षमायुक्तो दयालुकः / गृहस्थस्तु समाख्यातो न गृहेण गृही भवेत्

Transliteration

vibhāgaśīlaḥ satataṃ kṣamāyukto dayālukaḥ / gṛhasthastu samākhyāto na gṛheṇa gṛhī bhavet

Translation

ربُّ الأسرة الحقّ هو من يميل دائمًا إلى القِسمة العادلة، متحلّيًا بالحِلم (كشما) والرحمة؛ وإن سكن البيت فلا يصير أسيرًا للبيت، كأنّ البيت قد تملّكه.

Word by Word

• विभागशीलः: having the habit of proper distribution
• विभागशीलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभाग-शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘शील’ (स्वभाव) with ‘विभाग’ (distribution)

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• क्षमायुक्तः: endowed with forgiveness
• क्षमायुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘क्षमा’ (forbearance) + ‘युक्त’ (endowed)

• दयालुकः: compassionate
• दयालुकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयालु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक विशेषण

• गृहस्थः: a householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/अवधारणार्थ-व्यतिरेक (particle: but/indeed)

• समाख्यातः: is called/declared
• समाख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ—‘called/declared’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• गृहेण: by/through the house (mere dwelling)
• गृहेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• गृही: a householder (mere possessor of a house)
• गृही: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who has a house/householder’

• भवेत्: should be/become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional framing in the Kurma Purana places this teaching within the sages’ dharma-instruction narrative (often conveyed by Vyasa/Suta in Purāṇic discourse).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Gṛhastha (householder)
• Kṣamā (forbearance)
• Dayā (compassion)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By urging inner non-attachment even amid household life, the verse points to the Atman-centered stance: one may act in the world without being owned by it, preserving inward freedom and clarity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes the ethical ground that supports Yoga—compassion (dayā), forgiveness (kṣamā), and disciplined non-possessiveness—virtues that stabilize the mind and make higher practice (dhyāna, īśvara-bhāva) effective.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s synthesis: the same dharmic virtues underpin both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths—devotion and discipline are validated as universal means to spiritual freedom, not sectarian markers.