Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 82

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

Devanagari script

आचम्य प्रयतो नित्यं जपेदशुचिदर्शने / सौरान् मन्त्रान् शक्तितो वै पावमानीस्तु कामतः

Transliteration

ācamya prayato nityaṃ japedaśucidarśane / saurān mantrān śaktito vai pāvamānīstu kāmataḥ

Translation

بعد أداء الآچامَنا مع التزام الانضباط، إذا صادف المرءُ نجاسةً فليداوم على جَپَ الذكر. وبحسب الطاقة فليتْلُ مَنترات السَّورا (الشمسية)، وبحسب الرغبة فليتْلُ أيضًا أبيات پاڤاماني المُطهِّرة.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• प्रयतः: self-restrained
• प्रयतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘संयत/शुद्धचित्त’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अशुचि-दर्शने: upon seeing impurity
• अशुचि-दर्शने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुचि + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—अशुचेः दर्शनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सौरान्: solar (related to Sūrya)
• सौरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण—मन्त्रान्

• मन्त्रान्: mantras
• मन्त्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• शक्तितः: as per one’s capacity
• शक्तितः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to ability’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/assurance)

• पावमानीः: Pāvamānī (purificatory) verses
• पावमानीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावमानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘पावमानी’ इति पवमानसूक्त-सम्बद्धा ऋचः/मन्त्राः

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/limitation)

• कामतः: as one wishes
• कामतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘as desired/at will’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a dharma-teaching dialogue

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya
• Saura mantras
• Pāvamānī

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes shauca (purity) and mantra-japa as supports for inner clarity, which in the Kurma Purana’s spiritual framework helps the practitioner become fit to recognize the Self beyond external impurity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Mantra-yoga through japa is highlighted, preceded by ācamana and self-restraint (prayata). The verse prescribes purificatory recitation—Saura mantras and Pāvamānī verses—as practical disciplines to restore ritual and mental purity after contact with impurity.

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

Though not explicit here, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis is reflected in its pragmatic dharma: purificatory mantra-practice is upheld as universally effective, aligning Vaishnava (Kurma’s instruction) with broader Shaiva-Vedic ritual disciplines used across traditions.