Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

उदकुम्भं सुमनसो गोशकृन्मृत्तिकां कुशान् / आहरेद् यावदर्थानि भैक्ष्यं चाहरहश्चरेत्

Transliteration

udakumbhaṃ sumanaso gośakṛnmṛttikāṃ kuśān / āhared yāvadarthāni bhaikṣyaṃ cāharahaścaret

Translation

L’esprit pur et bienveillant, qu’il se procure une jarre d’eau, des fleurs, de la bouse de vache, de l’argile et de l’herbe kuśa, seulement selon le besoin; et qu’il aille aussi chaque jour quêter la nourriture d’aumône.

Word by Word

• उदकुम्भम्: water-pot
• उदकुम्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद-कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उदकस्य कुम्भः)

• सुमनसः: flowers
• सुमनसः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (वैकल्पिकरूपेण पुंलिङ्गेऽपि); ‘सुमनस्’ = पुष्पम्

• गोशकृत्-मृत्तिकाम्: cow-dung clay (purifying earth)
• गोशकृत्-मृत्तिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-शकृत् + मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोशकृतः मृत्तिका/गोमयमृत्तिका)

• कुशान्: kuśa grass blades
• कुशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आहरेत्: should bring/collect
• आहरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः आ-

• यावत्: as much as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धशब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (as much as)

• अर्थानि: necessary items/requirements
• अर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अहरहः: every day
• अहरहः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहरहः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (day by day)

• चरेत्: should practice/should go about
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Vyasa (narratorial instruction within the dharma-teaching context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa
• Bhaikṣya
• Udakumbha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames self-knowledge as supported by disciplined simplicity—taking only what is necessary and living on alms—so the mind becomes fit for inner realization rather than outward acquisition.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Foundational sādhana for Yoga: śauca (purity) using water, earth, and kuśa; aparigraha (non-possessiveness) by taking only what is needed; and regulated bhikṣā (daily alms-round) to sustain practice without attachment.

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

By emphasizing shared dharma-yoga ethics—purity, restraint, and non-attachment—this verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same disciplined path supports devotion and realization regardless of whether one approaches as Śaiva (Pāśupata) or Vaiṣṇava.