Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं मदाराधनकारणात् / यो मे ददाति नियतः स मे भक्तः प्रियो मतः

Transliteration

patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ madārādhanakāraṇāt / yo me dadāti niyataḥ sa me bhaktaḥ priyo mataḥ

Translation

Whoever, with disciplined devotion and for the sake of worshipping Me, offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water—such a person is regarded by Me as My devotee, dear to Me.

Word by Word

• पत्रम्: a leaf
• पत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• पुष्पम्: a flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• फलम्: a fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मत्-आराधन-कारणात्: for the purpose of worshipping me
• मत्-आराधन-कारणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आराधन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मम आराधनस्य कारणम्; ‘for the sake of my worship’)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; enclitic form

• ददाति: gives, offers
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नियतः: disciplined, devotedly observant
• नियतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying यः: disciplined/regular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• भक्तः: devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of भक्तः)

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘considered/held (by me)’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Kurma), teaching devotion and worship

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Bhakti
• Aradhana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the Supreme as a personal Lord who responds to intention (bhāva) and disciplined devotion (niyama), showing that inner orientation—not material magnitude—connects the individual self to the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights niyama (regular disciplined observance) and īśvara-praṇidhāna (dedication to the Lord) expressed through simple pūjā; it aligns with Purāṇic yoga where devotion stabilizes the mind and makes worship a daily sādhana.

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

By centering worship on the one Supreme Lord accessible through devotion and discipline, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where sectarian forms (Śiva/Vişṇu) converge in a shared theology of īśvara-bhakti.