Shloka 9

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

उत्तरं तु समाख्यातं वासः कृष्णाजिनं शुभम् / अभावे गव्यमजिनं रौरवं वा विधीयते

Transliteration

uttaraṃ tu samākhyātaṃ vāsaḥ kṛṣṇājinaṃ śubham / abhāve gavyamajinaṃ rauravaṃ vā vidhīyate

Translation

Le vêtement supérieur est déclaré être l’auspicieuse peau d’antilope noire (kṛṣṇājina). À défaut, on prescrit une peau de vache, ou bien une peau de cerf (raurava).

Word by Word

• uttaram: the upper (garment)
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here as predicate/thing described

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), adversative/emphatic

• samākhyātam: has been stated/declared
• samākhyātam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; passive sense ‘has been declared’

• vāsaḥ: garment/clothing
• vāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• kṛṣṇājinaṃ: black antelope-skin
• kṛṣṇājinaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृष्णस्य अजिनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to vāsaḥ/uttaram

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of kṛṣṇājinaṃ/vāsaḥ

• abhāve: in the absence (of it)
• abhāve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative of condition

• gavyam: bovine/cow-related
• gavyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ajinaṃ

• ajinam: skin/hide
• ajinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• rauravam: raurava (deer/ruru) skin
• rauravam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective used substantively (a raurava-skin, i.e., from ruru/deer)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• vidhīyate: is prescribed/ordained
• vidhīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in dharma-vidhi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define the Atman; it supports dharma through external discipline and purity, which the Kurma Purana treats as preparatory (bahiraṅga) aids for inner steadiness conducive to Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is stated; the verse emphasizes niyama-like discipline—regulated, pure observance and appropriate attire for sacred rites—supporting steadiness of mind that later aligns with Pashupata-oriented sadhana in the Kurma Purana.

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

Indirectly: Vishnu as Lord Kurma teaches dharma-vidhi that is shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava observance, reflecting the Purana’s harmonizing stance that one sacred order supports devotion to the one Supreme approached through different forms.