Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama

Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit

Devanagari script

उपवासपरो भूत्वा नित्यं व्रतपरायणः / तत्र स्नात्वा तु राजेन्द्र मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

Transliteration

upavāsaparo bhūtvā nityaṃ vrataparāyaṇaḥ / tatra snātvā tu rājendra mucyate brahmahatyayā

Translation

مَن لزم الصوم وداوم على الوفاء بالنذور، يا خير الملوك، فإذا اغتسل هناك تحرّر من إثم براهمَهَتْيا، أي قتل البراهمن.

Word by Word

• upavāsa-paraḥ: devoted to fasting
• upavāsa-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘devoted to fasting’

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having become’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb)

• vrata-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to vows
• vrata-parāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘intent on vows’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bathed’

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• rājendra: O best of kings
• rājendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘Indra among kings’

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• brahma-hatyayā: from/with the sin of brahmin-slaying
• brahma-hatyayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण-हेतु), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘killing of a brāhmaṇa’; here instrumental of cause/association

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the tīrtha-vrata teaching within the Kurma Purana’s discourse to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it stresses inner purification through disciplined vrata and upavāsa; such purification is treated as supportive to Self-knowledge by reducing pāpa and mental agitation that obstruct realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A dharma-yoga emphasis: tapas through fasting (upavāsa), niyama-like vow observance (vrata), and tīrtha-snāna as a purificatory aid—preparatory disciplines that steady the mind for higher sādhana.

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

It does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, it frames purification through vrata and tīrtha as universally valid dharma, compatible with both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava modes of worship.