Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 2

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

गुरवे तु वरं दत्त्वा स्नायीत तदनुज्ञया / चीर्णव्रतो ऽथ युक्तात्मा सशक्तः स्नातुमर्हति

Transliteration

gurave tu varaṃ dattvā snāyīta tadanujñayā / cīrṇavrato 'tha yuktātmā saśaktaḥ snātumarhati

Translation

まず師（グル）にふさわしい供養の贈り物（ダクシナー）を捧げ、師の許しを得て結びの沐浴を行うべきである。次いで、誓戒（ヴラタ）を正しく成就し、心を整え自制し、身に力が備わるなら、完成の儀としての沐浴に相応しい者となる。

Word by Word

• gurave: to the teacher
• gurave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

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

• varam: a gift/boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here ‘boon/gift’

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), from √dā ‘to give’

• snāyīta: should bathe
• snāyīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• tat: with that (i.e., with his)
• tat: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronoun used with anu-jñā

• anujñayā: permission/consent
• anujñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anujñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• cīrṇavrataḥ: one who has completed the vow
• cīrṇavrataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīrṇa-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya ‘one whose vow is performed’; cīrṇa (ppp of √car) + vrata

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sequential particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• yuktātmā: self-controlled
• yuktātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘whose self is disciplined’; yukta (ppp of √yuj) + ātman

• saśaktaḥ: capable/able
• saśaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; sa- prefix ‘well/fully’ + śakta (ppp of √śak)

• snātum: to bathe
• snātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), from √snā ‘to bathe’

• arhati: is entitled/deserves
• arhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Narrator/teaching voice within the Kurma Purana’s vrata-vidhi context (instructional passage attributed to the Purana’s authoritative discourse, ultimately grounded in Lord Kurma’s teaching tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Vrata
• Dakshina
• Snana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes yuktātmā—self-possessed discipline—implying that inner mastery and purity are prerequisites for higher realization taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s yoga and īśvara-centered doctrines.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights preparatory yogic ethics: obedience to the guru, completion of vrata (regulated observance), and yuktātmā (mental integration/self-control). These support the Kurma Purana’s broader Pāśupata-oriented discipline where outer rites and inner restraint work together.

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

Not explicitly, but it reflects the Purana’s synthetic ethos: guru-centered dharma and disciplined practice are presented as universally valid prerequisites for īśvara-bhakti and yoga, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava harmonization.