Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

वैशाख्यां पौर्णमास्यां तु ब्राह्मणान् सप्त पञ्च वा / उपोष्य विधिना शान्तः शुचिः प्रयतमानसः

Transliteration

vaiśākhyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ tu brāhmaṇān sapta pañca vā / upoṣya vidhinā śāntaḥ śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ

Translation

Pada hari purnama bulan Waiśākha, setelah berpuasa menurut tata cara, dengan tenang, suci, dan pikiran terkendali, hendaknya menghormati tujuh—atau setidaknya lima—brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• vaiśākhyām: on (the month of) Vaiśākha
• vaiśākhyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśākhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• paurṇamāsyām: on the full-moon day
• paurṇamāsyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paurṇamāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), emphasis/contrast

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; here qualifying brāhmaṇān

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; alternative count

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

• upoṣya: having fasted
• upoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-vas (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having fasted’

• vidhinā: according to the prescribed rule
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śāntaḥ: calm
• śāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• śuciḥ: pure/clean
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• prayata-mānasaḥ: with a disciplined mind
• prayata-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayata (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna tradition on vrata-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśākha
• Paurṇamāsī
• Brāhmaṇa
• Upoṣa (fasting)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that spiritual merit is grounded in inner discipline—calmness (śānti), purity (śauca), and a controlled mind (prayata-mānasa). Such inner qualities are the practical doorway to realizing the Self beyond ritual action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights preparatory yogic disciplines: upoṣa (fasting as sense-restraint), śauca (purity), and mānasa-niyama (mental regulation). These align with Pāśupata-style emphasis on inner control supporting devotional observance.

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

By presenting vrata, purity, and disciplined mind as universally valid dharma, it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrative stance: the same inner yogic virtues support both Vaiṣṇava devotion (Kūrma/Vishnu) and Śaiva-Pāśupata spiritual culture.