Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 37

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

यथोपविष्टान् सर्वांस्तानलङ्कुर्याद् विभूषणः / स्त्रग्दामभिः शिरोवेष्टैर्धूपवासो ऽनुलेपनैः

Transliteration

yathopaviṣṭān sarvāṃstānalaṅkuryād vibhūṣaṇaḥ / stragdāmabhiḥ śiroveṣṭairdhūpavāso 'nulepanaiḥ

Translation

Ensuite, l’officiant d’honneur doit les parer tous, tels qu’ils sont assis—en offrant guirlandes et chapelets de fleurs, bandeaux de tête, encens, beaux vêtements et onguents parfumés.

Word by Word

• yathā: as/according to
• yathā: Prakara (प्रकार/ manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ‘as/according to’ (यथार्थक अव्यय)

• upaviṣṭān: seated
• upaviṣṭān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-viś (विश् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying ‘tān’

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying ‘tān’

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• alaṅkuryāt: should adorn
• alaṅkuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṅ-kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vibhūṣaṇaḥ: the one who adorns/attendant
• vibhūṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1-प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• strag-dāmabhiḥ: with garlands and wreath-strings
• strag-dāmabhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strag (प्रातिपदिक) + dāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective), Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); dvandva ‘garlands and wreaths/strings’

• śiro-veṣṭaiḥ: with head-wraps
• śiro-veṣṭaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + veṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘head-wraps/turbans’

• dhūpa-vāsaḥ: with incense and clothing
• dhūpa-vāsaḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective), Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन) understood; dvandva ‘incense and garments’ (instrumental sense in context)

• anulepanaiḥ: with unguents/pastes
• anulepanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relating traditional dharma-vidhi to the sages (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guests (Atithi)
• Sages (Ṛṣi)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches outer satkāra (honouring) as a dharmic discipline that purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi), preparing one for inner realization of the Atman taught more explicitly in the Upari-bhāga’s Ishvara Gītā.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes preparatory discipline (niyama-like purity and reverence): offering fragrance, clean cloth, and respectful adornment cultivates humility and sattva, which supports later yogic concentration and devotion in the Kurma Purana’s broader sādhanā framework.

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

Not explicitly in this line; however, the Purana’s synthesis is reflected in the shared dharma of pūjā and satkāra—forms of reverence applicable to both Śaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava devotion, grounding their unity in common ritual-ethical practice.