Shloka 13

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मं तु मार्जनं मन्त्रैः कुशैः सोदकबिन्दुभिः / आग्नेयं भस्मना पादमस्तकाद्देहधूलनम्

Transliteration

brāhmaṃ tu mārjanaṃ mantraiḥ kuśaiḥ sodakabindubhiḥ / āgneyaṃ bhasmanā pādamastakāddehadhūlanam

Translation

બ્રાહ્મ શૌચ એટલે મંત્રો સાથે કુશા અને જળબિંદુઓ વડે માર્જન (છાંટવું); આગ્નેય શૌચ એટલે ભસ્મથી પાદથી મસ્તક સુધી દેહશોધન।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मम्: the Brahma-type (bath)
• ब्राह्मम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विषय/उद्देश्य (what is being defined)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle)

• मार्जनम्: cleansing / wiping
• मार्जनम्: Kriya-phala (क्रियाफल/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• स-उदक-बिन्दुभिः: with drops of water
• स-उदक-बिन्दुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘उदकबिन्दु’ (जल-बिन्दु) तत्पुरुष; ‘स’ उपपदपूर्वक ‘सहित’ अर्थे; करण

• आग्नेयम्: the Agni-type (bath)
• आग्नेयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विषय

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• पाद-मस्तकात्: from the feet (up) to the head
• पाद-मस्तकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (starting point) ‘from feet to head’ (range)

• देह-धूलनम्: cleansing of the body
• देह-धूलनम्: Kriya-phala (क्रियाफल/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देहस्य धूलनम्); विधेय

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on dharma and ritual purity

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Agni (implied by Āgneya)
• Kuśa grass
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purity as an inner-and-outer discipline—mantra (consciousness/śruti) and bhasma (renunciation/Agni-symbolism) prepare the practitioner for higher knowledge of the Self, a key Purāṇic bridge between karma (ritual) and jñāna (realization).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory śauca (purificatory discipline) used before japa, worship, and yogic practice: Brāhma mārjana (mantra + kuśa + water sprinkling) and Āgneya śauca (bhasma application), aligning with Pāśupata-Śaiva customs while remaining acceptable within Vaiṣṇava dharma frameworks of the Kūrma Purāṇa.

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

By validating both Vedic mantra-based purification (Brāhma) and ash-based Āgneya purification (strongly associated with Śaiva/Pāśupata practice), the verse reflects the Kūrma Purāṇa’s integrative approach where Vaiṣṇava teaching accommodates Śaiva ritual markers as complementary disciplines.