Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

शान्तो दान्तस्त्रिषवणंस्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य पिनाकिनम् / भैक्षाहारो विशुद्धात्मा ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः

Transliteration

śānto dāntastriṣavaṇaṃsnātvābhyarcya pinākinam / bhaikṣāhāro viśuddhātmā brahmacaryaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

ಶಾಂತನಾಗಿ, ಇಂದ್ರಿಯನಿಗ್ರಹದಿಂದ, ತ್ರಿಸವಣ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಿ ಪಿನಾಕಿನನಾದ ಶಿವನನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು; ಭಿಕ್ಷಾಹಾರದಿಂದ ಬದುಕಿ, ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಶುದ್ಧವಾಗಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತನಾಗಿರಬೇಕು।

Word by Word

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘calmed/peaceful’

• दान्तः: restrained
• दान्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘self-controlled’

• त्रिषवणम्: at the three daily times (thrice daily)
• त्रिषवणम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + सवन (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; नपुंसक एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘at the three savanas (thrice daily)’

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• पिनाकिनम्: Pinākin (Śiva)
• पिनाकिनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भैक्षाहारः: one who lives on alms
• भैक्षाहारः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष + आहार (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘one whose food is alms’

• विशुद्धात्मा: pure-souled
• विशुद्धात्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशुद्ध + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘whose self is purified’

• ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः: devoted to celibate discipline
• ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य + परायण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘devoted to brahmacarya’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse tradition; instruction on Śaiva/Pāśupata discipline within the Kurma Purana’s teaching frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pinakin (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that inner purity (viśuddhātmā) is cultivated through restraint, disciplined living, and worship—preparing the mind for knowledge of the Self rather than describing Atman directly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-leaning regimen: tri-sandhyā bathing (triṣavaṇa), daily worship (abhyarcya), sense-control (dānta), mental calm (śānta), alms-based simplicity (bhaikṣāhāra), and brahmacarya—supporting steadiness for meditation and mantra-japa.

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

By presenting Śiva-worship (Pinākin) as a central dharmic-yogic discipline within the Kurma Purana (a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa), it reflects the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: devotion and discipline converge toward one supreme spiritual aim.