Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्राद्धं न कर्तव्यं चतुर्दश्यां द्विजातिभिः / शस्त्रेण तु हतानां वै तत्र श्राद्धं प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

tasmācchrāddhaṃ na kartavyaṃ caturdaśyāṃ dvijātibhiḥ / śastreṇa tu hatānāṃ vai tatra śrāddhaṃ prakalpayet

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ചതുര്ദശീ തിഥിയിൽ ദ്വിജന്മാർ ശ്രാദ്ധം ചെയ്യരുത്. എന്നാൽ ആയുധഹതരായവർക്കായി അതേ തിഥിയിൽ തന്നെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ശ്രാദ്ധം നടത്താം.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्तव्य-निर्देशे)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done/should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (‘to be done’)

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

• द्विजातिभिः: by the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-सहायक), बहुवचन; (by the twice-born)

• शस्त्रेण: by a weapon
• शस्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• हतानाम्: of those who were killed
• हतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of the slain’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there/in that case)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/perform
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa) teaching dharma-vidhi to the listening sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha
• Caturdaśī

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-vidhi (ritual law) rather than direct ātma-tattva teaching; it implies that spiritual welfare is supported through correct action (karma) aligned with śāstra, which sustains order (dharma) and benefits the departed.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is taught here; the emphasis is on disciplined observance (niyama) within Varnāśrama Dharma—performing rites at proper times, with an exception for violent death—reflecting the Purāṇa’s broader stress on regulated conduct as a support for spiritual life.

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

The verse does not directly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative dharma framework in which correct ancestral rites are upheld within a tradition that elsewhere harmonizes Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva teachings.