Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 135

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

श्राद्धे वा दैविके कार्ये श्रावणीयं द्विजातिभिः / यज्ञान्ते तु विशेषेण सर्वदोषविशोधनम्

Transliteration

śrāddhe vā daivike kārye śrāvaṇīyaṃ dvijātibhiḥ / yajñānte tu viśeṣeṇa sarvadoṣaviśodhanam

Translation

Beim Śrāddha oder bei jedem für die Devas vollzogenen Ritus sollen die Dvijas (Zweimalgeborenen) die vorgeschriebene heilige Rezitation vortragen, die zu hören ist. Und besonders am Ende eines Yajña wirkt sie als Läuterung, die jeden Makel reinigt.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धे: in a śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• दैविके: in a divine (rite)
• दैविके: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कार्ये: in a ceremony/act to be done
• कार्ये: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• श्रावणीयम्: should be recited/heard
• श्रावणीयम्: विधेय (Predicative obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + अनीय (कृत्)
• Form: अनीय-कृदन्त (gerundive: to be made heard/recited), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• द्विजातिभिः: by the twice-born
• द्विजातिभिः: करण (Instrument/Agentive instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (द्वे जात्यौ यस्य/द्विजाति), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• यज्ञान्ते: at the end of a sacrifice
• यज्ञान्ते: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: यज्ञस्य अन्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-अव्यय (particle)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial instrumental: 'especially')

• सर्वदोषविशोधनम्: purification of all faults
• सर्वदोषविशोधनम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + दोष + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभाव: सर्वे दोषाः येषां तेषां विशोधनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions in a ritual context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Śrāddha
• Daivika karma
• Yajña
• Dvijāti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes śuddhi (purification) through prescribed sacred recitation, preparing the practitioner for higher knowledge where Atman-realization becomes possible; ritual correctness supports inner clarity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a yogic technique in itself, but a dharmic discipline: disciplined śravaṇa/recitation of sacred formulae at śrāddha and yajña, functioning as a purificatory practice (śuddhi) that complements Kurma Purana’s broader yogic path.

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

By focusing on universally valid dharma (śrāddha, daivika rites, yajña) rather than sectarian markers, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where devotion and purity support realization beyond Shiva–Vishnu distinctions.