Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

देवताभ्यर्चनं कुर्यात् पुष्पैः पत्रेण वाम्बुभिः / अभिवादनशीलः स्यान्नित्यं वृद्धेषु धर्मतः

Transliteration

devatābhyarcanaṃ kuryāt puṣpaiḥ patreṇa vāmbubhiḥ / abhivādanaśīlaḥ syānnityaṃ vṛddheṣu dharmataḥ

Translation

Man soll die Gottheiten mit Blumen, Blättern oder selbst mit Wasser verehren. Und gemäß dem Dharma soll man stets zu ehrerbietigen Grüßen geneigt sein—besonders gegenüber den Älteren.

Word by Word

• devatā-abhyarcanam: worship of the deities
• devatā-abhyarcanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyarcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘worship of deities’; object of ‘kuryāt’

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrument

• patreṇa: with a leaf
• patreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrument

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्प)

• ambubhiḥ: with water
• ambubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrument

• abhivādana-śīlaḥ: habitually saluting (elders)
• abhivādana-śīlaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhivādana (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘having the habit of salutation’; predicate adjective

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vṛddheṣu: towards/among elders
• vṛddheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; locative ‘among/with respect to elders’

• dharmataḥ: according to dharma, rightly
• dharmataḥ: Hetu/vidhi-bodhaka (विधिबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Tasil-anta avyaya (तसिलन्त अव्यय) meaning ‘according to dharma’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and daily worship

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ (the deities)
• Vṛddha (elders)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic discipline—worship and humility—which purifies the mind and supports inner realization, a prerequisite for knowing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory practice (ācāra) for Yoga: regular deva-arcana (devotional worship) and cultivation of humility through honoring elders—foundational qualities that steady the mind for higher Shaiva-Vaishnava sādhanā.

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

By prescribing deva-arcana without sectarian limitation, it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: worship of the divine is upheld as dharma across forms, aligning with Shaiva-Vaishnava unity in practice.