Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24

Bhojana-vidhi and Nitya-karman: Directions for Eating, Prāṇa-Oblations, Sandhyā, and Conduct Leading to Apavarga

Devanagari script

भुक्त्वैवं सुखमास्थाय तदन्नं परिणामयेत् / इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां वेदार्थानुपबृंहयेत्

Transliteration

bhuktvaivaṃ sukhamāsthāya tadannaṃ pariṇāmayet / itihāsapurāṇābhyāṃ vedārthānupabṛṃhayet

Translation

فإذا أكل على هذا النحو، فليجلس في سكينة وليدع الطعام يهضم على وجهه الصحيح؛ وليُغنِ ويُجلِّ معاني الفيدا بالاستنارة بالإيتيهاسا والبورانا (Itihāsa–Purāṇa).

Word by Word

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): भुज्-धातोः क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• sukham: comfortably/at ease
• sukham: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative; adverbial use), एकवचनम्

• āsthāya: having sat down/taken a seat
• āsthāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive): आ+स्था-धातोः क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः (आस्थाय)

• tad-annam: that food
• tad-annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: तत् अन्नम् (that food)

• pariṇāmayet: should digest/assimilate
• pariṇāmayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√ṇī (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः: नी (नयने) उपसर्गः परि-; अर्थे: पाचन/परिणाम-करणे

• itihāsa-purāṇābhyām: by (means of) Itihāsa and Purāṇa
• itihāsa-purāṇābhyām: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itihāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/करण), द्विवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• veda-arthān: the meanings of the Vedas
• veda-arthān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वेदानाम् अर्थाः

• anupabṛṃhayet: should elucidate/strengthen
• anupabṛṃhayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√bṛṃh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः अनु-; अर्थः: उपबृंहण/समर्थन-करण (to augment/expound)

Speaker

Sūta (traditional Purāṇic narrator) instructing sages on dharma and study discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Itihasa
• Purana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that Vedic truth is best understood when its deeper meanings are unfolded through Itihāsa and Purāṇa—texts that often present ātma-jñāna in narrative and practical form.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes disciplined living that supports sādhana: after eating, one should rest in a composed posture and allow digestion, then engage in svādhyāya—scriptural contemplation—using Itihāsa-Purāṇa to internalize Vedic teaching.

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

By recommending Itihāsa-Purāṇa as the lens for Vedic meaning, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative method—where sectarian differences are harmonized through broader Purāṇic theology and shared dharma.