Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 13

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

श्वोभूते दक्षिणां गत्वा दिशं दर्भान् समाहितः / समूलानाहरेद् वारि दक्षिणाग्रान् सुनिर्मलान्

Transliteration

śvobhūte dakṣiṇāṃ gatvā diśaṃ darbhān samāhitaḥ / samūlānāhared vāri dakṣiṇāgrān sunirmalān

Translation

暁に、心を統一して南の方角へ赴き、水を添えてきわめて清浄なダルバ草（darbha）を、根ごと採り、穂先を南に向けて持ち帰るべきである。

Word by Word

• श्वः: tomorrow
• श्वः: काल (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्वः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• भूते: when (it is) tomorrow / on the morrow
• भूते: कालाधिकरण (Temporal locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त; √भू (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘भूते’ = ‘when it has become/when it is’ (locative absolute sense with time)

• दक्षिणाम्: southern
• दक्षिणाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘दिशम्’ विशेषण

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (goal as object of motion)

• दर्भान्: darbha grasses
• दर्भान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म

• समाहितः: composed/attentive
• समाहितः: विशेषण (Qualifier of implied agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) + सम्-आ उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘collected/attentive’

• समूलान्: with the roots
• समूलान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of दर्भान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + मूल (प्रातिपदिक); समूल (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/अव्ययीभावार्थ ‘मूलेन सह’ = with roots, qualifying दर्भान्

• आहरेत्: should bring/collect
• आहरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु) + आ उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वारि: water
• वारि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• दक्षिणाग्रान्: having tips pointing south
• दक्षिणाग्रान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of दर्भान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक); दक्षिण-अग्र (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (दक्षिणं अग्रं येषाम्) qualifying दर्भान्

• सुनिर्मलान्: very clean/pure
• सुनिर्मलान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of दर्भान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक); सु-निर्मल (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सु = very) qualifying दर्भान्

Speaker

Vyasa (narratorial instruction within a ritual-dharma passage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Darbha (Kuśa grass)
• Dakṣiṇa (southern direction)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that steadiness of mind (samāhita) and purity are prerequisites for higher insight; outer discipline supports the inner orientation toward the Atman, even before explicitly philosophical instruction begins.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes samādhāna (mental collectedness) alongside ritual purity—an external-internal pairing consistent with Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning discipline, where regulated conduct and purification steady the mind for mantra, worship, and meditation.

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

By focusing on shared dharmic and yogic preliminaries (purity, directionality, disciplined mind) rather than sectarian markers, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach in which Shaiva-Vaishnava practice converges in common sadhana foundations.