Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 8

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

उदकुम्भं कुशान् पुष्पं समिधो ऽस्याहरेत् सदा / मार्जनं लेपनं नित्यमङ्गानां वै समाचरेत्

Transliteration

udakumbhaṃ kuśān puṣpaṃ samidho 'syāharet sadā / mārjanaṃ lepanaṃ nityamaṅgānāṃ vai samācaret

Translation

常に御前へ、水の壺、クシャ草、花、そして供火の薪を携えて来るべきである。また、神像の御身の諸肢を日々清め、香油を塗って整える行を怠ってはならない。

Word by Word

• uda-kumbham: water-pot
• uda-kumbham: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उदकस्य कुम्भः)

• kuśān: kuśa grass (blades)
• kuśān: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• puṣpam: flower
• puṣpam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• samidhaḥ: fuel-sticks
• samidhaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samidh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समिधः)

• asya: for him/of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• āharet: should bring
• āharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• mārjanam: cleaning/wiping
• mārjanam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्मरूपेण)

• lepanam: anointing/smearing
• lepanam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nityam: constantly
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम् (constantly)

• aṅgānām: of the limbs (of the body)
• aṅgānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/उपपद-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• samācaret: should practice/perform
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on regulated worship and purity-observances

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• kuśa
• samidh
• udakumbha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that the Supreme is approached through disciplined purity and devotion—external worship (cleaning and anointing the icon) supports inner recollection of the indwelling Lord (ātman as īśvara).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes sādhana through nitya-kriyā—regular, mindful ritual acts (bringing offerings, mārjana, lepana). In the Kurma Purana’s yogic ethic, steady daily discipline (niyama) stabilizes the mind for dhyāna and devotion.

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

By focusing on standardized pūjā and purity rather than sectarian markers, the verse aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach: the same disciplined worship-technology applies to īśvara as Viṣṇu or Śiva, supporting a practical non-sectarian synthesis.