Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

मृदैकया शिरः क्षाल्यं द्वाभ्यां नाभेस्तथोपरि / अधश्च तिसृभिः कायं पादौ षड्भिस्तथैव च

Transliteration

mṛdaikayā śiraḥ kṣālyaṃ dvābhyāṃ nābhestathopari / adhaśca tisṛbhiḥ kāyaṃ pādau ṣaḍbhistathaiva ca

Translation

浄めの土を一度用いて頭を洗い、二度で臍より上を、三度で臍より下の身を洗う。足は同様に六度用いて洗うべきである。

Word by Word

• mṛdā: with clay
• mṛdā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ekayā: with one (portion)
• ekayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; numeral adjective agreeing with mṛdā

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kṣālyam: should be washed
• kṣālyam: Vidhi/Prāpyakarma (विधि/प्राप्यकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣāl (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; impersonal obligation: ‘to be washed’

• dvābhyām: with two (portions)
• dvābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); numeral adjective (f./n./m. form)

• nābheḥ: from/than the navel (navel)
• nābheḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (also possible Genitive 6th sg by form); here with upari: ‘above the navel’

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (रीति-वाचक)

• upari: above
• upari: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb/postposition (उपसर्गसदृश)

• adhaḥ: below
• adhaḥ: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhaḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (देशवाचक)

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

• tisṛbhiḥ: with three (portions)
• tisṛbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; feminine numeral form used instrumentally ‘with three (portions)’

• kāyam: body
• kāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pādau: (both) feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ṣaḍbhiḥ: with six (portions)
• ṣaḍbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective ‘with six (portions)’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (रीति-वाचक)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) of emphasis

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

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions as taught in the tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mṛdā (cleansing clay)
• Śauca (purity)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches outer śauca (bodily purity) as a dharmic foundation that steadies the mind for inner śauca—clarity and self-restraint—through which realization of the Atman is approached.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This is a preparatory discipline (aṅga) supporting Yoga: ritual cleanliness and regulated conduct reduce rajas/tamas, making the practitioner fit for mantra-japa, worship, and contemplative practices emphasized in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.

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

It does so by shared dharma: the same śauca standards underpin both Shaiva and Vaishnava worship, reflecting the Purana’s integrative stance that purity and discipline serve devotion to the one Supreme approached through Shiva or Vishnu.