Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

उपस्पृश्य त्रिषवणं पितृदेवांश्च तर्पयेत् / एकपादेन तिष्ठेत मरीचीन् वा पिबेत् तदा

Transliteration

upaspṛśya triṣavaṇaṃ pitṛdevāṃśca tarpayet / ekapādena tiṣṭheta marīcīn vā pibet tadā

Translation

بعد أداء الآچَمَنَة (ācamana) وشعيرة الأوقات الثلاثة (trisavana) عند السندهيات الثلاث، فليقدّم التَّرْپَنَة (tarpana) للآباء (pitṛs) وللآلهة. ثم كرياضةٍ روحية، يمكنه أن يقف على قدمٍ واحدة، أو حتى في ذلك الوقت «يشرب» أشعة الشمس (marīci) نذرًا للضبط.

Word by Word

• उपस्पृश्य: having sipped/touched (water)
• उपस्पृश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having touched (water)/having performed ācamana'

• त्रि-सवणम्: the thrice-daily (rite)
• त्रि-सवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु (three times a day rite)

• पितृ-देवान्: the Pitṛs and the gods
• पितृ-देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/propitiate
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense in usage: 'should satisfy/offer libations'

• एक-पादेन: with one foot
• एक-पादेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one foot)

• तिष्ठेत: should stand
• तिष्ठेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मरीचीन्: sun-rays (rays)
• मरीचीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then/at that time)

Speaker

Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers on dharma and observances (narrative instruction style of the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Tri-sandhyā (three daily times)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that inner steadiness is supported by outer purification and disciplined vows; such niyama-like practices prepare the mind for realizing the Atman beyond ritual, as emphasized in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented teachings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory disciplines (tapas/niyama): tri-sandhyā observance, tarpaṇa to pitṛs and devas, and bodily restraint such as standing on one leg; “drinking the rays” indicates a vow of austerity and prāṇa-control-like restraint rather than literal indulgence.

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

By presenting dharma and tapas as universal preparatory means for liberation, the verse fits the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where Vishnu (as Kurma) teaches practices also valued in Shaiva/Pāśupata milieus—ritual purity and austerity as shared foundations for higher realization.