Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

गुह्यका राक्षसा सिद्धा हरन्ति प्रसभं यतः / एकान्ते सुशुभे देशे तस्माज्जप्यं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

guhyakā rākṣasā siddhā haranti prasabhaṃ yataḥ / ekānte suśubhe deśe tasmājjapyaṃ samācaret

Translation

لأن الغوهيَكَة (guhyaka) والراكشَسَة (rākṣasa) وبعض السِّدْهَة (siddha) قد يضطربون السالك قسرًا أو «يختطفون» ثمرة ممارسته، فلذلك ينبغي أداء جَپا المانترا في موضعٍ خَلْوَةٍ حسنٍ مبارك.

Word by Word

• गुह्यकाः: guhyakas (yakṣa-class beings)
• गुह्यकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• सिद्धाः: siddhas
• सिद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; जातिवाचक (class noun: Siddhas)

• हरन्ति: take away/steal
• हरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• प्रसभम्: forcibly
• प्रसभम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रसभम् (अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक अव्यय (causal ‘because/for’)

• एकान्ते: in solitude
• एकान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• सुशुभे: in a very auspicious
• सुशुभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-शुभ (प्रातिपदिक; सु + शुभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (very auspicious)

• देशे: place
• देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• जप्यम्: japa/recitation (to be done)
• जप्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्य (कृदन्त, यत्/णीय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive used substantively), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘that which is to be recited’

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on disciplined mantra-practice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guhyakas
• Rakshasas
• Siddhas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it assumes the fruit of japa is an inward realization that requires steadiness and protection from distraction; the Atman is approached through disciplined interiority (ekānta) rather than through noisy outward engagement.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Mantra-japa as a core sadhana, with the yogic requirement of deśa-niyama (choosing a proper place): solitude (ekānta) and auspicious surroundings (suśubha-deśa) to reduce bhanga (breaks in concentration) and safeguard the practice from subtle obstacles.

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

By emphasizing japa and disciplined sadhana—hallmarks of Shaiva Pashupata-style practice—while presenting them through Lord Kurma (a Vishnu form), the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis in shared yogic methodology.