Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

त्रिवर्गसेवी सततं देवतानां च पूजनम् / कुर्यादहरहर्नित्यं नमस्येत् प्रयतः सुरान्

Transliteration

trivargasevī satataṃ devatānāṃ ca pūjanam / kuryādaharaharnityaṃ namasyet prayataḥ surān

Translation

トリヴァルガ（ダルマ・アルタ・カーマ）に常に励む者は、神々への礼拝を絶えず行うべきである。日ごとに欠かさず、慎みと自制をもってスラ（神々）に恭しく礼拝し、合掌して拝礼せよ。

Word by Word

• त्रि-वर्ग-सेवी: one who practices the three aims of life
• त्रि-वर्ग-सेवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सेविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘one who serves the three aims (dharma-artha-kāma)’

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘constantly’

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of the deities’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/ conjunction): ‘and’

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म: ‘worship’

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

• अहर्-अहर्: day after day
• अहर्-अहर्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग: ‘day by day’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always’

• नमस्येत्: should salute
• नमस्येत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + √या (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘to bow/salute’ (denominative/compound-verb usage)

• प्रयतः: being disciplined/pure
• प्रयतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (कृदन्त; प्र + √यम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘restrained, purified, attentive’

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म: ‘the gods’

Speaker

Traditional narration in the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructional passage (didactic voice aligned with Lord Kūrma’s teaching style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing disciplined worship and reverence, it frames purification of conduct (prayata) as a foundation for inner clarity, which in the Purāṇic yoga-dharma setting supports realization of the Self beyond mere worldly aims.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes niyama-like discipline: regular daily worship (nitya-pūjā), repeated remembrance through bowing (namas), and self-restraint (prayata). These are preparatory practices that steady the mind for higher yoga described elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

By enjoining worship of the devas and disciplined reverence, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: devotion is not sectarian here, but ordered within dharma—supporting a broader Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony in practice.