Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 12

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

षष्ठ्यष्टमीं पञ्चदशीं द्वादशीं च चतुर्दशीम् / ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्नित्यं तद्वज्जन्मत्रयाहनि

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhyaṣṭamīṃ pañcadaśīṃ dvādaśīṃ ca caturdaśīm / brahmacārī bhavennityaṃ tadvajjanmatrayāhani

Translation

Aux sixième et huitième jours lunaires, au quinzième, au douzième et au quatorzième également, on doit garder constamment le brahmacarya (continence); et de même durant les trois jours liés à sa naissance.

Word by Word

• षष्ठीम्: the sixth (lunar day)
• षष्ठीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• अष्टमीम्: the eighth (lunar day)
• अष्टमीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• पञ्चदशीम्: the fifteenth (lunar day)
• पञ्चदशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• द्वादशीम्: the twelfth (lunar day)
• द्वादशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• च: and
• च: Discourse (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction)

• चतुर्दशीम्: the fourteenth (lunar day)
• चतुर्दशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—उपमान/तुल्यत्वबोधक (like that)

• जन्मत्रयाहनि: on the day of the three births (rites)
• जन्मत्रयाहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्म + त्रय + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘जन्मत्रय’ = उपनयनादि त्रिविध-जन्म; अहनि = ‘on the day’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages/disciples on dharma and vrata discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacarya
• Tithi
• Vrata
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes brahmacarya and regulated conduct as purifying disciplines that steady the mind, making it fit for realization of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s higher instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights brahmacarya as a foundational yama/niyama-style restraint: conserving vital energy, reducing sense-turbulence, and supporting japa, dhyāna, and vrata-based purification—key supports for Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā in the Kurma tradition.

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

Through shared dharma: the same purity-discipline (brahmacarya and vrata on sacred tithis) is upheld across both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva streams in the Purana, reflecting its integrative, non-sectarian spiritual ethic.