Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

वीतरागभयक्रोधो लोभमोहविवर्जितः / सावित्रीजाप्यनिरतः श्राद्धकृन्मुच्यते गृही

Transliteration

vītarāgabhayakrodho lobhamohavivarjitaḥ / sāvitrījāpyanirataḥ śrāddhakṛnmucyate gṛhī

Translation

A householder who is free from attachment, fear, and anger; who has abandoned greed and delusion; who is steadily devoted to the japa of Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī); and who performs the śrāddha rites—such a gṛhastha is liberated from bondage and sin.

Word by Word

• वीत-राग-भय-क्रोधः: free from attachment, fear, and anger
• वीत-राग-भय-क्रोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीत (कृदन्त; √वा/√वी ‘to go away’ धातु) + राग (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘one from whom attachment, fear, and anger have departed’

• लोभ-मोह-विवर्जितः: devoid of greed and delusion
• लोभ-मोह-विवर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त; वि + √वृज्/√वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘devoid of greed and delusion’

• सावित्री-जाप्य-निरतः: engaged in reciting the Sāvitrī mantra
• सावित्री-जाप्य-निरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक) + जाप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘engaged in the japa of Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)’

• श्राद्ध-कृत्: performer of śrāddha rites
• श्राद्ध-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त agent noun): ‘performer of śrāddha’

• मुच्यते: is liberated
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• गृही: the householder
• गृही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहिन्/गृही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘householder’ (synonym of गृहस्थ)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching as taught by the authoritative discourse within the Purāṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• Śrāddha
• Gṛhastha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that liberation is approached through inner purification—overcoming attachment, fear, anger, greed, and delusion—so the gṛhastha can become fit for Self-knowledge and release from bondage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights mantra-yoga through steady Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) japa, supported by ethical restraints (freedom from rāga, bhaya, krodha, lobha, moha) and dharmic observance (śrāddha), aligning outer duty with inner purification.

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

While not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s synthesizing approach: liberation is grounded in shared yogic-ethical discipline and Vedic rites rather than sectarian exclusivity, a hallmark of Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony.