Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 71

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

स्वप्नमध्ययनं स्नानमुद्वर्तं भोजनं गतिम् / उभयोः संध्ययोर्नित्यं मध्याह्ने चैव वर्जयेत्

Transliteration

svapnamadhyayanaṃ snānamudvartaṃ bhojanaṃ gatim / ubhayoḥ saṃdhyayornityaṃ madhyāhne caiva varjayet

Translation

പ്രഭാതസന്ധ്യയും സായംസന്ധ്യയും—ഇരു സംധിക്കാലങ്ങളിലും, കൂടാതെ മധ്യാഹ്നത്തിലും, നിദ്ര, പഠനം, സ്നാനം, ശരീരത്തിൽ ഉഡ്വർത്തനം/മർദ്ദനം, ഭോജനം, അനാവശ്യ സഞ്ചാരം—ഇവയെ നിത്യമായി ഒഴിവാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• svapna-adhyayanam: sleep and study (both)
• svapna-adhyayanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (svapnaś ca adhyayanaṃ ca), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• udvartam: rubbing/massage (with powder/oil)
• udvartam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvarta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• bhojanam: eating/meal
• bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• gatim: going/movement
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ubhayoḥ: of both
• ubhayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्य), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• saṃdhyayoḥ: of the two twilights (morning & evening)
• saṃdhyayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध) (अथवा सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे), द्विवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: always)

• madhyāhne: at midday
• madhyāhne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyāhna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj (धातु: वर्ज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and daily discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Sandhya (twilight rites)
• Nitya-karma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by restricting worldly acts at liminal times (dawn/dusk) and midday, the verse protects the mind’s clarity for sandhya and inner recollection, which supports turning awareness toward the Atman rather than outward activity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes behavioral restraint (yama-like discipline) around sandhya-vandana—times traditionally reserved for japa, pranava remembrance, and worship—so that the practitioner’s routine becomes supportive of concentration and purity, a prerequisite for Pashupata-oriented sadhana.

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

By prioritizing sandhya rites and disciplined nitya-karma as universal dharma taught by Lord Kurma, the verse aligns Vaishnava narration with Shaiva-style yogic restraint—showing the Purana’s synthesis through shared sadhana rather than sectarian difference.