Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

अधः शयीत सततं सावित्रीजाप्यतत्परः / शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां संविभागपरः सदा

Transliteration

adhaḥ śayīta satataṃ sāvitrījāpyatatparaḥ / śaraṇyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ saṃvibhāgaparaḥ sadā

Translation

وعليه أن ينام دائمًا على فراشٍ واطئ، مواظبًا على جَپَا ترديد سافيتري (غاياتري) مانترا، وأن يكون ملجأً لجميع الكائنات، ملازمًا قصدَ القسمة العادلة والمشاركة على الدوام.

Word by Word

• अधः: below/on the ground
• अधः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/अवस्थानवाचक-अव्यय (down/below)

• शयीत: should lie/sleep
• शयीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative)

• सावित्री: Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• सावित्री: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासे पूर्वपद (as qualifier)

• जाप्य: (that which is) to be recited
• जाप्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (gerundive used as noun) ‘जपनीयम्’

• तत्परः: devoted/intent on it
• तत्परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्+पर (devoted to that)

• शरण्यः: a refuge/protector
• शरण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शरणं दाति’ इति अर्थे

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—सर्व+भूत (all beings)

• संविभागपरः: devoted to sharing
• संविभागपरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संविभागपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—संविभाग+पर (intent on sharing/distribution)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Kurma Purana’s discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing humility, mantra-japa, and compassion to all beings, it points to the dharmic vision that the same Self is to be honored in everyone, expressed through refuge-giving and equitable sharing.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) japa is emphasized as a daily discipline; the accompanying restraints—humility (low bed), compassion, and fair sharing—function as ethical supports that stabilize mantra-sādhanā and purify the mind.

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

Not by naming them directly, but by presenting a shared Purāṇic dharma-ethic: mantra, humility, and protection of beings are upheld as universal virtues consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.