Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

सख्यं समाधैकैः कुर्यादुपेयादीश्वरं सदा / दैवतान्यपि गच्छेत कुर्याद् भार्याभिपोषणम्

Transliteration

sakhyaṃ samādhaikaiḥ kuryādupeyādīśvaraṃ sadā / daivatānyapi gaccheta kuryād bhāryābhipoṣaṇam

Translation

With those chiefly devoted to samādhi, one should cultivate friendship; and one should ever approach and take refuge in the Lord (Īśvara). One may also visit the deities for due worship, and one should properly support and maintain one’s wife.

Word by Word

• सख्यम्: friendship
• सख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; abstract noun

• समाधि-एकैः: with single-minded (persons/means)
• समाधि-एकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘समाधौ एकाः’ = single-minded/steadfast

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उपेयात्: should approach
• उपेयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-इ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दैवतानि: deities
• दैवतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• गच्छेत: should go
• गच्छेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• भार्या-अभिपोषणम्: support/maintenance of (one’s) wife
• भार्या-अभिपोषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-पूषण/पोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भार्यायाः अभिपोषणम्’ = maintenance of wife

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and disciplined life

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Devas (Daivatani)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points the aspirant toward Īśvara as the constant refuge and highest object of approach, implying that ultimate stability and spiritual fulfillment come from centering life on the Supreme Lord rather than on merely social or ritual aims.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes saṅga (association) with those established in samādhi—suggesting that one-pointedness and inner collectedness are strengthened by the company of meditators—while keeping daily life aligned with devotion to Īśvara.

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

By foregrounding devotion to Īśvara while allowing due worship of other deities, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: the many divine forms are honored, yet spiritual life is unified by orientation to the one Supreme Lord.