Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मं तु मार्जनं मन्त्रैः कुशैः सोदकबिन्दुभिः / आग्नेयं भस्मना पादमस्तकाद्देहधूलनम्

Transliteration

brāhmaṃ tu mārjanaṃ mantraiḥ kuśaiḥ sodakabindubhiḥ / āgneyaṃ bhasmanā pādamastakāddehadhūlanam

Translation

التطهيرُ ‘البراهْمي’ هو الرشُّ (مارجَنا) مع التلاوة بالمانترا، باستعمال عشب الكوشا مع قطرات الماء؛ وأما التطهيرُ ‘الآغني’ فهو تنقيةُ الجسد بالرماد المقدّس من القدمين إلى الرأس.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मम्: the Brahma-type (bath)
• ब्राह्मम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विषय/उद्देश्य (what is being defined)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle)

• मार्जनम्: cleansing / wiping
• मार्जनम्: Kriya-phala (क्रियाफल/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• स-उदक-बिन्दुभिः: with drops of water
• स-उदक-बिन्दुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘उदकबिन्दु’ (जल-बिन्दु) तत्पुरुष; ‘स’ उपपदपूर्वक ‘सहित’ अर्थे; करण

• आग्नेयम्: the Agni-type (bath)
• आग्नेयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विषय

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• पाद-मस्तकात्: from the feet (up) to the head
• पाद-मस्तकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (starting point) ‘from feet to head’ (range)

• देह-धूलनम्: cleansing of the body
• देह-धूलनम्: Kriya-phala (क्रियाफल/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देहस्य धूलनम्); विधेय

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on dharma and ritual purity

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Agni (implied by Āgneya)
• Kuśa grass
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purity as an inner-and-outer discipline—mantra (consciousness/śruti) and bhasma (renunciation/Agni-symbolism) prepare the practitioner for higher knowledge of the Self, a key Purāṇic bridge between karma (ritual) and jñāna (realization).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory śauca (purificatory discipline) used before japa, worship, and yogic practice: Brāhma mārjana (mantra + kuśa + water sprinkling) and Āgneya śauca (bhasma application), aligning with Pāśupata-Śaiva customs while remaining acceptable within Vaiṣṇava dharma frameworks of the Kūrma Purāṇa.

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

By validating both Vedic mantra-based purification (Brāhma) and ash-based Āgneya purification (strongly associated with Śaiva/Pāśupata practice), the verse reflects the Kūrma Purāṇa’s integrative approach where Vaiṣṇava teaching accommodates Śaiva ritual markers as complementary disciplines.