Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Śrāddha-Kāla-Nirṇaya: Proper Times, Nakṣatra Fruits, Tīrtha Merit, and Offerings for Ancestral Rites

Devanagari script

सर्वान् कामान् वैश्वदेवे श्रैष्ठ्यं तु श्रवणे पुनः / श्रविष्ठायां तथा कामान् वारुणे च परं बलम्

Transliteration

sarvān kāmān vaiśvadeve śraiṣṭhyaṃ tu śravaṇe punaḥ / śraviṣṭhāyāṃ tathā kāmān vāruṇe ca paraṃ balam

Translation

في نكشترة «فايشفاديفا» تتحقق جميع المآرب؛ وفي «شرافَنا» تُنال المزية والامتياز. وكذلك في «شرافيشثا (دَنيشثا)» تُدرك المقاصد المرغوبة، وفي «فارونا (شَتَبِهِشَج)» تُنال القوة العظمى.

Word by Word

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; agrees with kāmān

• kāmān: desires, wishes
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; object (things obtained)

• vaiśvadeve: in (the nakṣatra) Vaiśvadeva
• vaiśvadeve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśvadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (nakṣatra-name), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• śraiṣṭhyam: excellence, superiority
• śraiṣṭhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraiṣṭhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; object/result

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adversative/contrast particle (निपात)

• śravaṇe: in (the nakṣatra) Śravaṇa
• śravaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (nakṣatra-name), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• punaḥ: again, further
• punaḥ: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb

• śraviṣṭhāyām: in (the nakṣatra) Śraviṣṭhā
• śraviṣṭhāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraviṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (nakṣatra-name), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb

• kāmān: desires
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; object

• vāruṇe: in (the nakṣatra) Vāruṇa
• vāruṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (nakṣatra-name), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• param: supreme, great
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; agrees with balam

• balam: strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; object/result

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the teaching of the Purāṇic discourse on ritual timings

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśvadeva (nakṣatra)
• Śravaṇa (nakṣatra)
• Śraviṣṭhā/Dhaniṣṭhā (nakṣatra)
• Vāruṇa/Śatabhiṣaj (nakṣatra)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily karmaphala-oriented: it maps specific results (kāma-siddhi, śraiṣṭhya, bala) to observances performed under certain nakṣatras, rather than directly expounding Ātman metaphysics.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga-āsana or dhyāna method is taught here; the emphasis is on dharmic observance and correct kāla (timing). In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such disciplined karma supports inner steadiness that later complements Pāśupata-oriented restraint and devotion.

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

The verse itself is neutral and practical, focusing on timing and results. Within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such dharma-guidance is presented as aligned with devotion to Īśvara, understood in a unitive way across Shiva and Vishnu traditions.