Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Saṃnyāsa-dharma — Qualifications, Threefold Renunciation, and the Conduct of the Yati

Devanagari script

अभ्यसेत् सततं वेदं प्रणवाख्यं सनातनम् / स्नात्वाचम्य विधानेन शुचिर्देवालयादिषु

Transliteration

abhyaset satataṃ vedaṃ praṇavākhyaṃ sanātanam / snātvācamya vidhānena śucirdevālayādiṣu

Translation

永遠のヴェーダと呼ばれるプラナヴァ（オーム）を、たえず修習せよ。沐浴し、規定に従ってアーチャマナ（浄口）を行ったなら、清浄に住せよ—とりわけ神殿などの聖地において。

Word by Word

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice/recite
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अस्/√अभ्यस् (धातु; अभ्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should practice/recite’

• सततम्: continually
• सततम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: continually)

• वेदम्: Veda/sacred knowledge
• वेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रणव-आख्यम्: called ‘Praṇava (Oṃ)’
• प्रणव-आख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √ख्या ‘to name’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘प्रणव इति आख्यं’ (called ‘praṇava’)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वेदम्)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया—‘having bathed’

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया—‘having sipped (water ritually)’

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘by/according to the prescribed rule’

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (implied subject: साधकः/यतिः)

• देवालय-आदिषु: in temples and similar places
• देवालय-आदिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवालय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘देवालयः आदिः येषु’ (in temples and the like)

Speaker

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)
• Veda
• Devalaya (temple)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing constant practice of the Praṇava (Oṃ), the verse points to the Supreme as the timeless, all-pervading reality indicated by Oṃ—approached through disciplined remembrance and purity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes japa/abhyāsa of the Praṇava as a core meditative discipline, supported by śauca (purity) through bathing and ācamana—foundational observances that steady mind and body for Yoga and worship.

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

Rather than naming either deity, it centers on Praṇava and Vedic purity—shared foundations across Shaiva and Vaishnava practice—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where common mantra-dharma supports devotion to the one Supreme.