Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितः सम्यक् साधुभिर्यश्च सेवितः / तमाचारं निषेवेत नेहेतान्यत्र कर्हिचित्

Transliteration

śrutismṛtyuditaḥ samyak sādhubhiryaśca sevitaḥ / tamācāraṃ niṣeveta nehetānyatra karhicit

Translation

ശ്രുതി-സ്മൃതികളിൽ സമ്യകമായി ഉപദേശിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും സദ്ജനങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നതുമായ ആ ആചാരത്തെ തന്നേ നിഷ്ഠയോടെ പിന്തുടരണം; ഇതിൽ ഒരിക്കലും മറ്റൊരു വഴിയിലേക്കു പോകരുത്.

Word by Word

• श्रुति-स्मृति-उदितः: taught in śruti and smṛti
• श्रुति-स्मृति-उदितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √उद् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘श्रुतिस्मृतिभ्याम् उदितः’ = enjoined in śruti and smṛti

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• साधुभिः: by the good (people)
• साधुभिः: Karana/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यः: which/that (practice)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• च: and
• च: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• सेवितः: practised/served
• सेवितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; passive past participle

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• आचारम्: conduct/practice
• आचारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निषेवेत: should follow/practise
• निषेवेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• इह: here/in this matter
• इह: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• इतानि: these (others)
• इतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (in context: ‘these/other (ways)’)

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere/otherwise
• अन्यत्र: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/विषयवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• कर्हिचित्: ever/at any time
• कर्हिचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्हिचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite time adverb)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in dharma-teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Śruti
• Smṛti
• Sādhus
• Ācāra
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse define the reliable source of dharma (right living)?

It anchors dharma in two tests: (1) conformity to Śruti and Smṛti, and (2) confirmation through the lived practice (ācāra) of sādhus, treating these as the decisive standard.

What Yoga or meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named; the verse establishes ethical discipline (sadācāra) as the non-negotiable foundation upon which Pāśupata-oriented sādhana and other yogic practices must rest.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing Śruti–Smṛti-based ācāra as the common dharmic ground, it supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where sectarian paths are harmonized under shared scriptural discipline.