Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 119

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

वेदाभ्यासो ऽन्वहं शक्त्या महायज्ञक्रिया क्षमा / नाशयत्याशु पापानि देवानामर्चनं तथा

Transliteration

vedābhyāso 'nvahaṃ śaktyā mahāyajñakriyā kṣamā / nāśayatyāśu pāpāni devānāmarcanaṃ tathā

Translation

Daily recitation and study of the Veda, according to one’s capacity, and the duly performed rites of the great sacrifices—likewise the worship of the gods—quickly destroy sins.

Word by Word

• वेद-अभ्यासः: study/practice of the Veda
• वेद-अभ्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेदस्य अभ्यासः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अन्वहम्: day by day/daily
• अन्वहम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शक्त्या: with (one’s) ability
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• महायज्ञ-क्रिया: performance of the great sacrifices
• महायज्ञ-क्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महायज्ञानां क्रिया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• क्षमा: capable/effective
• क्षमा: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (योग्यता/समर्थता-अर्थे)

• नाशयति: destroys
• नाशयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु; णिच्—नाशयति)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; √अर्च्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/क्रियाविशेषण (thus/likewise)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching in a prāyaścitta context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Mahāyajña
• Devas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification (kṣaya of pāpa) through Vedic discipline, yajña, and deva-worship—preparatory dharma that steadies the mind for higher knowledge of the Self taught elsewhere in the Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a meditation technique but a yogic foundation: daily svādhyāya (Veda-abhiyāsa), disciplined karma (mahāyajña-kriyā), and bhakti-style arcana. These purify and concentrate the practitioner, supporting later Yoga-śāstra instructions.

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

By emphasizing orthodox Vedic ritual and deva-arcana rather than sectarian exclusivity, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where Vedic dharma undergirds both Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion.