Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Śrāddha-Kāla-Nirṇaya: Proper Times, Nakṣatra Fruits, Tīrtha Merit, and Offerings for Ancestral Rites

Devanagari script

षष्ट्यां द्यूतं कृषिं चापि सप्तम्यां लभते नरः / अष्टम्यामपि वाणिज्यं लभते श्राद्धदः सदा

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭyāṃ dyūtaṃ kṛṣiṃ cāpi saptamyāṃ labhate naraḥ / aṣṭamyāmapi vāṇijyaṃ labhate śrāddhadaḥ sadā

Translation

ഷഷ്ഠി തിഥിയിൽ ശ്രാദ്ധദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ദ്യൂതത്തിലും കൃഷിയിലും വിജയം നേടും; സപ്തമിയിൽ മനുഷ്യന് ഇഷ്ടസിദ്ധി ലഭിക്കും. അഷ്ടമിയിലും ശ്രാദ്ധദാതാവിന് വ്യാപാരസമൃദ്ധി എപ്പോഴും ലഭിക്കും.

Word by Word

• षष्ट्याम्: on the sixth (tithi)
• षष्ट्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (तिथौ)

• द्यूतम्: gambling/dice-play
• द्यूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कृषिम्: agriculture
• कृषिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• सप्तम्याम्: on the seventh (tithi)
• सप्तम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (तिथौ)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (tithi)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (तिथौ)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय

• वाणिज्यम्: trade/commerce
• वाणिज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणिज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• श्राद्धदः: the performer/giver of śrāddha
• श्राद्धदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘श्राद्धं ददाति’ इति (one who gives śrāddha)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s teaching on tithi-based Śrāddha merits, in the Shaiva-Vaishnava dharma framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śrāddha
• Ṣaṣṭhī
• Saptamī
• Aṣṭamī

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes karma-yoga through dharmic action—Śrāddha and dāna purify intention and stabilize the mind, which in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching becomes a support for Self-knowledge rather than a direct definition of Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds ritual discipline (niyama) and charitable offering as preparatory practices; in Kurma Purana’s integrated path, such regulated dharma supports sattva and steadiness required for later contemplative yoga (including the Pāśupata-oriented inner restraint taught elsewhere).

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

By presenting Śrāddha as universally dharmic (not sectarian), it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: devotion and duty performed with purity are upheld as valid supports on the single path to auspiciousness, regardless of whether framed through Śiva or Nārāyaṇa.