Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

भृगुतुङ्गे तपस्तप्तं श्राद्धं दानं तथा कृतम् / कुलान्युभयतः सप्त पुनातीति श्रुतिर्मम

Transliteration

bhṛgutuṅge tapastaptaṃ śrāddhaṃ dānaṃ tathā kṛtam / kulānyubhayataḥ sapta punātīti śrutirmama

Translation

At Bhṛgutunga, austerity is practiced; and śrāddha rites and charitable giving are also performed. This is my sacred teaching: such acts purify seven generations of one’s family on both sides, paternal and maternal.

Word by Word

• भृगुतुङ्गे: at Bhṛgutuṅga
• भृगुतुङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु + तुङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भृगोः तुङ्गे)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (as object of तप्तम्)

• तप्तम्: performed/undertaken
• तप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विधेय-विशेषणम् (tapas is ‘performed’)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समुच्चित-विषय (coordinated item)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विधेय-विशेषणम् (done)

• कुलानि: families/lineages
• कुलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• उभयतः: on both sides (maternal and paternal)
• उभयतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: on both sides)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-शब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (numeral adjective), द्वितीया-बहुवचन-नपुंसकलिङ्गानुगुणम् (agreeing with कुलानि)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय

• श्रुतिः: tradition/scriptural statement
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna-context on tīrtha-dharma and ritual merit

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Bhṛgutunga
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Tapas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification (śuddhi) through tapas, śrāddha, and dāna as supportive dharmic means that refine the mind and lineage, preparing one for higher realization taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/discipline) is highlighted as a yogic limb of self-regulation; the verse places it alongside ritual duty (śrāddha) and ethical generosity (dāna), showing Kurma Purana’s integrated path of conduct and inner discipline.

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

By having Lord Kūrma endorse tīrtha-dharma and purification through tapas, it aligns Vaiṣṇava narration with Shaiva-leaning ascetic ideals—typical of the Kurma Purana’s synthesis rather than sectarian separation.