Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

ऋणानि त्रीण्यपाकृत्य कुर्याद् वा तीर्थसेवनम् / विधाय वृत्तिं पुत्राणां भार्यां तेषु निधाय च

Transliteration

ṛṇāni trīṇyapākṛtya kuryād vā tīrthasevanam / vidhāya vṛttiṃ putrāṇāṃ bhāryāṃ teṣu nidhāya ca

Translation

Setelah menunaikan tiga hutang (ṛṇa), barulah ia melakukan sevā dan ziarah ke tīrtha; dengan mengatur nafkah putra-putranya dan menitipkan istrinya dalam pemeliharaan mereka.

Word by Word

• ऋणानि: debts
• ऋणानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• अपाकृत्य: having removed
• अपाकृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + आ + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having removed/cleared)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• तीर्थसेवनम्: visiting/serving sacred places
• तीर्थसेवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थस्य सेवनम्)

• विधाय: having arranged
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having arranged/provided)

• वृत्तिम्: livelihood / maintenance
• वृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुत्राणाम्: of (his) sons
• पुत्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेषु: among them / in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘पुत्रेषु’ इत्यर्थे (among them)

• निधाय: having entrusted/placed
• निधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having entrusted/placed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

Speaker

Traditional narrator within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching discourse (speaker not explicit from this single verse segment)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification through dharma—clearing obligations and stabilizing family duties—as a prerequisite for higher spiritual pursuit that culminates in Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory discipline (niyama-like foundations): fulfilling ṛṇa-traya (debts to sages, gods, and ancestors) and then tīrtha-sevana as a purifying regimen that supports later yogic practice.

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

Not explicitly; it reflects the Purana’s shared dharma-framework used across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths—ethical completion of duties before intensified sādhanā.