Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 38

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

ततस्त्वावाहयेद् देवान् ब्राह्मणानामनुज्ञया / उदङ्मुखो यथान्यायं विश्वे देवास इत्यृचा

Transliteration

tatastvāvāhayed devān brāhmaṇānāmanujñayā / udaṅmukho yathānyāyaṃ viśve devāsa ityṛcā

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ബ്രാഹ്മണരുടെ അനുവാദത്തോടെ വടക്കോട്ടു തിരിഞ്ഞിരുന്ന് 'വിശ്വേ ദേവാസഃ' എന്ന ഋക്കുകൊണ്ട് വിധിപ്രകാരം ദേവന്മാരെ ആവാഹിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ‘then/thereafter’ (अनन्तरार्थक)

• tu: but/and
• tu: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/विरोधसूचक)

• āvāhayet: should invoke
• āvāhayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vah (वह् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense ‘invite/call’ in ritual usage

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• brāhmaṇānām: of the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6-षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anujñayā: with the permission
• anujñayā: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anujñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• udaṅmukhaḥ: facing north
• udaṅmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) [qualifier]
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak/udañc (उदङ्) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1-प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘one whose face is northward’

• yathā: according to
• yathā: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ‘according to’

• nyāyam: rule/proper procedure
• nyāyam: Prakara (प्रकार/ manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘properly’

• viśve: O All (gods)
• viśve: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8-सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘Viśve Devāḥ’

• devāsaḥ: O gods
• devāsaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8-सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन); Vedic vocative form devāsaḥ

• iti: thus
• iti: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इत्यर्थक)

• ṛcā: with a ṛk-verse
• ṛcā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Vyasa (narrative instruction within ritual-dharma teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmanas
• Vishve Devah (All-Gods)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily procedural (ritual-vidhi): it emphasizes disciplined invocation through Vedic speech and right authority, implying that approach to the sacred is mediated by dharma and mantra rather than personal whim.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

While not teaching aṣṭāṅga-yoga directly, it reflects ritual-yoga principles: correct orientation (facing north), regulated conduct (yathā-nyāya), and mantra-japa/recitation as a concentrative act that aligns the practitioner with the devas.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic synthesis by grounding worship in Vedic universals (the “All-Gods” invocation), a framework within which both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava rites are treated as dharmic when performed according to proper rule and mantra.