Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

संध्यास्नानपरो नित्यं ब्रह्मयज्ञुपरायणः / अनसूयी मृदुर्दान्तो गृहस्थः प्रेत्य वर्धते

Transliteration

saṃdhyāsnānaparo nityaṃ brahmayajñuparāyaṇaḥ / anasūyī mṛdurdānto gṛhasthaḥ pretya vardhate

Translation

Ein Haushälter, der stets den Sandhyā-Riten und dem reinigenden Bad hingegeben ist, standhaft im Brahma-yajña (Studium und Rezitation heiligen Wissens), ohne Neid, sanft und selbstbeherrscht—der gedeiht nach dem Tod und erlangt höheres Wohlergehen.

Word by Word

• संध्या-स्नान-परः: devoted to bathing at the twilight rites
• संध्या-स्नान-परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘devoted to twilight-bath’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always’

• ब्रह्म-यज्ञ-उपरायणः: fully devoted to the brahma-yajña
• ब्रह्म-यज्ञ-उपरायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘wholly devoted to the brahma-yajña (Vedic study/recitation sacrifice)’

• अनसूयी: non-envious
• अनसूयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनसूयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘free from envy/censure’

• मृदुः: gentle
• मृदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘gentle’

• दान्तः: self-controlled
• दान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (कृदन्त; √दम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): ‘self-controlled’

• गृहस्थः: householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आश्रमवाचक

• प्रेत्य: after death
• प्रेत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + इ (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त absolutive/gerund): ‘having departed (after death)’

• वर्धते: prospers / increases
• वर्धते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma within the Kurma Purana’s householder teachings

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Sandhya
• Brahma-yajna
• Grihastha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to the Atman-oriented path by emphasizing purity (snāna), disciplined daily practice (Sandhyā), and Brahma-yajña (sacred study), which refine the mind for Self-knowledge rather than mere ritualism.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Sandhyā practice functions as a daily discipline of japa, contemplation, and ritual purification; coupled with self-restraint (dānta) and non-envy (anasūyā), it forms the ethical and mental groundwork that supports higher Yoga, including the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis of devotion and inner control.

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

Though not naming Shiva directly, the verse reflects the Purana’s integrative dharma-yoga ethos: disciplined conduct and sacred study are shared foundations across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, preparing the seeker for realization of the one Supreme beyond sectarian division.