Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

विप्रोष्य पादग्रहणमन्वहं चाभिवादनम् / गुरुदारेषु कुर्वोत सतां धर्ममनुस्मरन्

Transliteration

viproṣya pādagrahaṇamanvahaṃ cābhivādanam / gurudāreṣu kurvota satāṃ dharmamanusmaran

Translation

Having returned after an absence, he should clasp the teacher’s feet and, every day, offer respectful salutations; and toward the guru’s wife he should keep proper, disciplined conduct, ever remembering the dharma upheld by the virtuous.

Word by Word

• वि-प्रोष्य: when away (from home)
• वि-प्रोष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-वस्/प्रोष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); उपसर्ग वि-; 'having gone away/being away'

• पाद-ग्रहणम्: taking (touching) the feet
• पाद-ग्रहणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'feet' + 'taking/holding'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अन्वहम्: daily
• अन्वहम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्वहम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time) = 'every day'

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

• अभिवादनम्: salutation
• अभिवादनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिवादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गुरु-दारेषु: towards/in the case of the guru’s wives
• गुरु-दारेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'guru' + 'wives'; पुंलिङ्ग (दाराः), सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• कुर्वोत: you should do
• कुर्वोत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; variant -ओत

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; 'of the good/virtuous'

• धर्मम्: duty/law
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनु-स्मरन्: remembering
• अनु-स्मरन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) with उपसर्ग अनु-; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'remembering' (agreeing with implied 'you')

Speaker

Traditional narrator to the listening sages (Kurma Purana discourse context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Sat (the virtuous)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it teaches sādhaka-dharma—humility, remembrance of sat-dharma, and disciplined conduct—which are presented in the Purana as prerequisites for inner purification that supports Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights ethical groundwork (yama-like discipline): daily reverence (abhivādana), humility (pādagrahaṇa), and mindful restraint in social relations—foundational practices that stabilize the mind for higher yoga taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

This specific verse is not sectarian; it emphasizes universal dharma (sadācāra) and guru-centered discipline, a shared foundation for both Shaiva-Pashupata and Vaishnava paths within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis.