Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

अभ्यञ्जनं स्नापनं च गात्रोत्सादनमेव च / गुरुपत्न्या न कार्याणि केशानां च प्रसाधनम्

Transliteration

abhyañjanaṃ snāpanaṃ ca gātrotsādanameva ca / gurupatnyā na kāryāṇi keśānāṃ ca prasādhanam

Translation

Für die Frau des Guru soll man weder Ölung, Bad, Massage oder Reiben der Glieder verrichten, noch ihr Haar frisieren und schmücken.

Word by Word

• अभ्यञ्जनम्: anointing (with oil/paste)
• अभ्यञ्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st)/द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; here as item in list (object)

• स्नापनम्: bathing
• स्नापनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'bathing/washing'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गात्र-उत्सादनम्: rubbing/massaging the body
• गात्र-उत्सादनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र + उत्सादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्राय तत्पुरुष: 'body-limbs' + 'rubbing/massaging'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• गुरु-पत्न्याः: of the guru’s wife
• गुरु-पत्न्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'guru' + 'wife'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• कार्याणि: should be done
• कार्याणि: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (predicate); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'to be done/should be done'

• केशानाम्: of the hair
• केशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• प्रसाधनम्: grooming/adorning
• प्रसाधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'arranging/adorning'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and disciplined conduct

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Guru
• Guru-patni

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes self-restraint and purity of conduct (yama-like discipline), which is treated in the Kurma tradition as a prerequisite for inner clarity required for realizing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation is named; the verse highlights ethical restraint and control of the senses—foundational discipline that supports later yogic practice (including the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava sadhana ideals).

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

It does not explicitly discuss Shiva–Vishnu unity; it contributes to the shared dharmic framework—purity, restraint, and right conduct—that underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths in the Kurma Purana.