Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वं तु मातरः पूज्या भक्त्या वै सगणेश्वराः / स्थण्डिलेषु विचित्रेषु प्रतिमासु द्विजातिषु

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ tu mātaraḥ pūjyā bhaktyā vai sagaṇeśvarāḥ / sthaṇḍileṣu vicitreṣu pratimāsu dvijātiṣu

Translation

まず母神たち（マートリ）を、信愛（バクティ）をもって、ガネーシュヴァラと共に礼拝すべきである。彼女らは、彩り飾られたスタンディラ（祭壇の地相）において、尊像を通して、また二度生まれの者（ブラーフマナ祭司）を通して敬われる。

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• मातरः: the Mothers (Mātṛs)
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• पूज्याः: to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/तव्यत्-भाव), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• स-गण-ईश्वराः: together with Gaṇeśvara
• स-गण-ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘स’ = सह (with); तत्पुरुषः—‘गणेश्वरैः सह’ (with Gaṇeśvara)

• स्थण्डिलेषु: on altar-grounds (sthaṇḍilas)
• स्थण्डिलेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• विचित्रेषु: variegated/ornate
• विचित्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्थण्डिलेषु)

• प्रतिमासु: in/at images (icons)
• प्रतिमासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• द्विजातिषु: among the twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)
• द्विजातिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) relaying the Kurma Purana’s ritual injunctions to the sages at Naimisharanya

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mātṛs (Divine Mothers)
• Gaṇeśvara (Gaṇeśa)
• Dvija (twice-born, especially Brāhmaṇas)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames worship as beginning with ordered reverence to divine powers (Mātṛs) and Gaṇeśvara, implying that spiritual realization is supported by disciplined, dharmic preparation rather than random practice.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory discipline (pūrvakriyā): devotion (bhakti), ritual purity, and structured worship on a consecrated space (sthaṇḍila). In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such ordered preliminaries stabilize the mind for higher practices like mantra-japa and contemplative absorption.

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

By prescribing Gaṇeśvara and the Mātṛs—typically Shaiva-associated deities—within a Purāṇic framework that also honors Viṣṇu/Kūrma, it reflects the text’s integrative stance: shared dharmic rites support devotion to the one Supreme revered through multiple forms.