Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Narmadā-māhātmya: Amarakāṇṭaka, Jāleśvara, Kapilā–Viśalyakaraṇī, and the Supreme Purifying Power of Darśana

Devanagari script

तत्र पिण्डप्रदानेन संध्योपासनकर्मणा / दशवर्षाणि पितरस्तर्पिताः स्युर्न संशयः

Transliteration

tatra piṇḍapradānena saṃdhyopāsanakarmaṇā / daśavarṣāṇi pitarastarpitāḥ syurna saṃśayaḥ

Translation

There, by offering the piṇḍa (funeral rice-ball) and by performing the daily rite of Sandhyā worship, one’s ancestors remain satisfied for ten years—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (locative adverb)

• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: by offering funeral rice-balls (piṇḍa)
• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पिण्डस्य प्रदानम्)

• संध्या-उपासन-कर्मणा: by the act of twilight worship
• संध्या-उपासन-कर्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + उपासन (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (संध्यायाः उपासनं कर्म)

• दश-वर्षाणि: for ten years
• दश-वर्षाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश वर्षाणि)

• पितरः: the ancestors
• पितरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तर्पिताः: satisfied/propitiated
• तर्पिताः: कर्तृसम्बन्धि विधेय (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• स्युः: would be / will be
• स्युः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; of implied 'asti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वाक्यांशः: न संशयः (there is no doubt)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on Dharma and Śrāddha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Piṇḍa
• Sandhyā-upāsanā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic action (nitya-karma) and sacramental offerings as a means to maintain cosmic and familial order; the Atman is approached through disciplined duty rather than abstract metaphysics in this specific verse.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Sandhyā-upāsanā (twilight worship) is highlighted as a daily discipline—combining mantra, purity, and regulated conduct—functioning as a foundational sādhana that supports higher yogic life taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

The verse is primarily śrāddha-focused; within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such dharma-rites are upheld as universally valid regardless of sectarian form, serving the same Supreme order honored in both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frameworks.