Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा समाहितमना दम्भमात्सर्यवर्जितः / जपेदीशं नमस्कृत्य स याति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

snātvā samāhitamanā dambhamātsaryavarjitaḥ / japedīśaṃ namaskṛtya sa yāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

Nachdem man gebadet hat, mit gesammelt-ruhigem Geist, frei von Heuchelei und Neid, soll man sich vor dem Herrn Īśvara verneigen und dann japa verrichten; ein solcher gelangt zur höchsten Bestimmung, zur höchsten Befreiung.

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल — having bathed

• समाहितमना: with a composed mind
• समाहितमना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Bahuvrīhi: यस्य मनः समाहितम् (one whose mind is composed)

• दम्भ: hypocrisy/ostentation
• दम्भ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — object within compound sense

• मात्सर्य: envy
• मात्सर्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्सर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — object within compound sense

• वर्जितः: free from
• वर्जितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'devoid of/avoiding'

• जपेत्: should chant
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — should recite

• ईशम्: the Lord
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) from denominal/compound verb 'नमस्करोति' — having saluted

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Pronoun

• याति: attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — goes/attains

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — qualifying 'गतिम्'

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (instructional verse within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yoga teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Isha (Īśvara)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames the “supreme goal” as attainable through inner purification and God-centered japa—implying liberation is realized when the mind becomes steady and egoic faults like hypocrisy and envy are abandoned in devotion to Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory purity (snāna), mental collectedness (samāhita-manas), ethical restraints (freedom from dambha and mātsarya), and mantra-repetition (japa) preceded by reverence (namaskāra)—a practical bhakti-yoga aligned with Pāśupata-style discipline.

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

By using the inclusive title Īśvara (“the Lord”) and emphasizing japa and surrender, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing stance where the Supreme Lord is approached through devotion and yogic discipline beyond sectarian division.