Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 85

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

कुर्याच्चत्वारि पात्राणि प्रेतादीनां द्विजोत्तमाः / प्रेतार्थं पितृपात्रेषु पात्रमासेचयेत् ततः

Transliteration

kuryāccatvāri pātrāṇi pretādīnāṃ dvijottamāḥ / pretārthaṃ pitṛpātreṣu pātramāsecayet tataḥ

Translation

El más excelso entre los dvijas (dvijottama) debe preparar cuatro recipientes para las ofrendas destinadas al preta y a los ritos afines. Luego, por el bien del preta, debe verter esa ofrenda en los recipientes destinados a los pitṛs, los padres-antepasados.

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (पात्राणि इति विशेष्य)

• पात्राणि: vessels
• पात्राणि: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• प्रेतादीनाम्: of the departed and others (categories)
• प्रेतादीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (प्रेतः आदिः येषाम्), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समूह/पर्याय-निर्देश

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तमाः: कर्ता/सम्बोधन (कर्ता/सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (उत्तमाः द्विजाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थेऽपि प्रयोगः (vocative sense possible)

• प्रेतार्थम्: for the departed
• प्रेतार्थम्: प्रयोजन (हेतु/प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (प्रेतस्य अर्थे), अव्यय; प्रयोजनवाचक (for the sake of)

• पितृपात्रेषु: in the vessels of the ancestors
• पितृपात्रेषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां पात्रेषु), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• पात्रम्: (one) vessel
• पात्रम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आसेचयेत्: should pour/transfer
• आसेचयेत्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सिच् (धातु) णिच्
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) + विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (thereafter/from that)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Purāṇic instruction on śrāddha to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Dvija (twice-born)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily procedural, teaching dharma through śrāddha and preta-vidhi; it implies that spiritual order includes honoring the departed and the pitṛs, which supports inner purity (śuddhi) and steadiness needed for Self-knowledge, though it does not directly define Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yogic technique is taught here; the emphasis is on karmic discipline (niyama-like observance) through correct ritual action in pitṛ-yajña, which the Kurma Purana treats as supportive groundwork for higher sādhana, including later yoga teachings.

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

It does not explicitly discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; instead it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where devotion and right action (dharma) are upheld as universally sacred duties, forming a shared foundation for both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths.