Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

नदीषु देवखातेषु तडागेषु सरःसु च / स्नानं समाचरेन्नित्यं गर्तप्रस्त्रवणेषु च

Transliteration

nadīṣu devakhāteṣu taḍāgeṣu saraḥsu ca / snānaṃ samācarennityaṃ gartaprastravaṇeṣu ca

Translation

河川において、また神々が穿った聖なる水路（デーヴァ・カータ）において、池や湖において、さらに水の満ちた穴や自然の流れ・泉においても、日々沐浴を行うべきである。

Word by Word

• nadīṣu: in rivers
• nadīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• deva-khāteṣu: in god-dug (sacred) ponds/wells
• deva-khāteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + khāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: देवानां खाता/देवखातानि)

• taḍāgeṣu: in tanks/ponds
• taḍāgeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taḍāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• saraḥsu: in lakes
• saraḥsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samācaret: should perform/practise
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: always/daily
• nityam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण)

• garta-prastravaṇeṣu: in pits and in springs/outflows
• garta-prastravaṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garta (प्रातिपदिक) + prastravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समास (गर्तेषु च प्रस्त्रवणेषु च)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and purificatory practice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it emphasizes outer purity through daily snāna, a preparatory discipline that supports inner clarity for realizing the Self in later teachings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights śauca (purity) via daily ritual bathing—an enabling practice for mantra-japa, worship, and steadiness of mind, which the Kurma Purana treats as supportive to higher yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline).

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

Indirectly: it presents a shared dharmic framework of purification and tirtha-based practice accepted across Shaiva-Vaishnava traditions, aligning with the Purana’s synthetic approach rather than sectarian separation.