Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Mādhayameśvara-māhātmya — Vyāsa at Mandākinī and the Pāśupata Vision

Devanagari script

संनिहत्यामुपस्पृश्य राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे / यत् फलं लभते मर्त्यस्तस्माद् दशगुणं त्विह

Transliteration

saṃnihatyāmupaspṛśya rāhugraste divākare / yat phalaṃ labhate martyastasmād daśaguṇaṃ tviha

Translation

Wenn die Sonne von Rāhu ergriffen wird (bei einer Sonnenfinsternis), erlangt der Sterbliche, der sich am glückverheißenden Zusammentreffen (saṃnihati) durch Berührung des Wassers rituell reinigt, eine Frucht; hier jedoch wird eben dieses Verdienst zehnfach.

Word by Word

• संनिहत्याम्: at the time of conjunction/critical moment
• संनिहत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संनिहत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक अधिकरण (at the time of saṃnihati—conjunction/critical moment, esp. eclipse context)

• उपस्पृश्य: having sipped/touched (water)
• उपस्पृश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), उपसर्ग: उप-; अर्थ: having touched (water)/having performed ācamana

• राहुग्रस्ते: when seized by Rāhu (eclipsed)
• राहुग्रस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राहु + ग्रस्त (ग्रह्, धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (राहुणा ग्रस्तः), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; दिवाकरे इति विशेष्यस्य

• दिवाकरे: in the sun
• दिवाकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; फलम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that; therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/तुलनायाम् (therefore/than that)

• दशगुणम्: tenfold
• दशगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दश गुणाः यस्य/दशगुणं), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (फलम्) इति अध्याहृत-विशेष्यस्य

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: indeed)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (here)

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (instructional voice within the Kurma Purana’s dharma section)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rāhu
• Divākara (Sun)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic timing and purification (śauca) as supports for inner clarity; the verse focuses on karmic merit rather than defining Ātman explicitly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights śauca (purificatory discipline) through upaspṛśya—ritual water-touch/ablution at an eclipse-junction—an external aid that, in Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, complements inner yogic restraint and devotion.

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

Not directly; the verse is a dharma-vidhi about eclipse purification. In the Kurma Purana’s wider Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, such observances are framed as universally meritorious regardless of sectarian focus.