Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

संध्यारात्र्योर्न कर्तव्यं राहोरन्यत्र दर्शनात् / देशानां च विशेषेण भवेत् पुण्यमनन्तकम्

Transliteration

saṃdhyārātryorna kartavyaṃ rāhoranyatra darśanāt / deśānāṃ ca viśeṣeṇa bhavet puṇyamanantakam

Translation

لا تُؤدَّى شعائر السَّندْهيا في الليل، إلا إذا شوهد راهو. وبفضل القداسة المميَّزة لبعض الأقاليم، يصير الثواب الناتج غير متناهٍ.

Word by Word

• saṃdhyā-rātryoḥ: of twilight and night
• saṃdhyā-rātryoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva) — “of twilight and night”

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृ-धातु (कृञ्), तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोग — “should be done”

• rāhoḥ: of Rāhu
• rāhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — “of Rāhu”

• anyatra: elsewhere; except
• anyatra: Apadana (अपादान) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place) — “elsewhere/except”

• darśanāt: from (its) sighting
• darśanāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — “from/owing to seeing”

• deśānām: of places
• deśānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — “of places/regions”

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• viśeṣeṇa: especially
• viśeṣeṇa: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially) — “especially/in particular”

• bhavet: may be
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: भू-धातु, विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — “may be/should become”

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — “merit”

• anantakam: endless
• anantakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण — “endless/immeasurable” (qualifying puṇyam)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇic injunction within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rāhu
• Sandhyā (twilight rite)
• Deśa (sacred regions)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it teaches dharma through correct timing and place—outer discipline that traditionally supports inner steadiness needed for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights sandhyā observance as a daily discipline (niyama-like restraint): performing rites at proper times, with an exception during Rāhu’s appearance, reinforcing attentiveness and ritual purity.

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

The verse is primarily ritual-geographical and does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu; its synthesis is implicit in the Purāṇic framework where disciplined dharma supports devotion and yoga across Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava traditions.