Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा कुमारधारायां कृत्वा देवादितर्पणम् / आराध्य षण्मुखं देवं स्कन्देन सह मोदते

Transliteration

snātvā kumāradhārāyāṃ kṛtvā devāditarpaṇam / ārādhya ṣaṇmukhaṃ devaṃ skandena saha modate

Translation

Setelah mandi di aliran suci Kumāra-dhārā dan mempersembahkan tarpaṇa kepada para dewa dan lainnya, siapa yang memuja Tuhan Ṣaṇmukha dengan tata cara yang benar akan bersukacita bersama Skanda.

Word by Word

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• kumāra-dhārāyām: in the Kumāra-stream
• kumāra-dhārāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kumārasya dhārā)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• deva-ādi-tarpaṇam: offering of libations to gods etc.
• deva-ādi-tarpaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (devānām ādiḥ yeṣām / devādiṣu tarpaṇam)

• ārādhya: having worshipped
• ārādhya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-rādh (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-भाव); ‘having worshipped’

• ṣaṇ-mukham: six-faced
• ṣaṇ-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगुसमासः (ṣaṇṇi mukhāni yasya) विशेषणम् (devam)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• skandena: with Skanda
• skandena: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (सह-योगे अव्यय)

• modate: rejoices
• modate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mud (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages on tīrtha-mahātmyas and worship

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Kumāra-dhārā
• Ṣaṇmukha
• Skanda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, by emphasizing purification (snāna), reverential offerings (tarpaṇa), and focused devotion (ārādhana): the mind made pure and one-pointed becomes fit to recognize the indwelling sacred presence that the Purāṇa treats as ultimately one, even when approached through distinct deities.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory sādhana: external purification at a tīrtha, gratitude and continuity of lineage through tarpaṇa, and devotional concentration on a chosen form (Ṣaṇmukha). In Kurma Purāṇa’s discipline, such rites stabilize attention and support inner yogic steadiness (dhyāna/ekāgratā).

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

By presenting a Vaiṣṇava-framed narration that still prescribes devotion to Skanda (a Śaiva deity), it reflects the Kurma Purāṇa’s integrative stance: sectarian forms differ, but dharma and the sacred goal are harmonized through shared ritual-yogic practice.