Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

वेदोदितं स्वकं कर्म नित्यं कुर्यादतन्द्रितः / अकुर्वाणः पतत्याशु नरकानतिभीषणान्

Transliteration

vedoditaṃ svakaṃ karma nityaṃ kuryādatandritaḥ / akurvāṇaḥ patatyāśu narakānatibhīṣaṇān

Translation

Man soll stets, ohne Nachlässigkeit, die eigene Pflicht tun, wie sie im Veda geboten ist. Wer sie nicht tut, stürzt schnell in überaus schreckliche Höllen.

Word by Word

• वेदोदितम्: enjoined by the Veda
• वेदोदितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + उदित (कृदन्त; √इ/उद्-इ ‘to arise’ past passive participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण—‘वेदेन उदितम्/विहितम्’

• स्वकम्: one’s own
• स्वकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied/without negligence
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• अकुर्वाणः: not doing (it)
• अकुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वकः (negated)

• पतति: falls
• पतति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अतिभीषणान्: very terrible
• अतिभीषणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; नरकान्-विशेषण

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching section (didactic voice attributed to the Purana’s instructive discourse, commonly framed as Lord Kurma’s guidance to sages/Indradyumna in the broader dialogue tradition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by insisting on disciplined, Veda-guided action, it supports purification of conduct (citta-śuddhi), which is treated in the Kurma tradition as a necessary basis for realizing the Self beyond karma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes the yogic prerequisite of apramāda (non-negligence) and steady observance of nitya-karma; in Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such discipline supports later contemplative practice, including Shaiva-Vaishnava aligned yoga and devotion.

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

Not explicitly; it presents a shared dharma foundation—Vedic injunction and disciplined action—upon which the Purana’s later Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis (including Ishvara-centered yoga) is built.