Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Ācamana-vidhi, Śauca, and Conduct Rules for Study, Eating, and Bodily Functions

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठानामिकाभ्यां तु स्पृशेन्नेत्रद्वयं ततः / तर्जन्यङ्गुष्ठयोगेन स्पृशेन्नासापृटद्वयम्

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhānāmikābhyāṃ tu spṛśennetradvayaṃ tataḥ / tarjanyaṅguṣṭhayogena spṛśennāsāpṛṭadvayam

Translation

Then, with the thumb and ring-finger one should touch both eyes; thereafter, joining the forefinger with the thumb, one should touch the two sides of the nose.

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठानामिकाभ्याम्: with the thumb and ring finger
• अङ्गुष्ठानामिकाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ + अनामिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अङ्गुष्ठः च अनामिका च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f., समाहार/इतर), तृतीया (Instr. 3), द्विवचन; ‘with (the) thumb and ring-finger’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; contrast/sequence

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should touch’

• नेत्रद्वयम्: both eyes
• नेत्रद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विगु/संख्यापूर्वपदभाव: द्वे नेत्रे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन; ‘the two eyes’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), क्रमवाचक; ‘then’

• तर्जन्यङ्गुष्ठयोगेन: with the joining of index finger and thumb
• तर्जन्यङ्गुष्ठयोगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी + अङ्गुष्ठ + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तर्जन्या अङ्गुष्ठस्य च योगः/संयोगः); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन; ‘with the joining of index finger and thumb’

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नासापृटद्वयम्: both sides of the nostrils
• नासापृटद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा + पृट् + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नासायाः पृटौ = nostril-sides; तयोः द्वयम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन; ‘the two sides of the nostrils’

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the discipline taught in the Kurma Purana’s yoga instructions, rooted in Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Shiva (as Ishvara, implicitly via yogic discipline)
• Pashupata Yoga (contextual)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by prescribing sensory “seals” (touches to eyes and nose), it indicates that realization of the Self requires withdrawal and purification of the sense-channels, preparing the mind for inward absorption where Atman is known.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A practical nyāsa/karanyāsa-style procedure used as a preparatory limb of meditation: specific finger placements touch the eyes and sides of the nose to discipline the senses and stabilize attention, typically preceding prāṇāyāma and dhyāna.

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

The verse is technical rather than theological, but its placement within the Kurma Purana’s blended tradition shows shared yogic methodology: the same inner discipline is affirmed across Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava (Kurma/Narayana) frameworks as a common path to the one Supreme.