Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Saṃnyāsa-dharma — Qualifications, Threefold Renunciation, and the Conduct of the Yati

Devanagari script

नैकत्र निवसेद् देशे वर्षाभ्यो ऽन्यत्र भिक्षुकः / स्नानशौचरतो नित्यं कमण्डलुकरः शुचिः

Transliteration

naikatra nivased deśe varṣābhyo 'nyatra bhikṣukaḥ / snānaśaucarato nityaṃ kamaṇḍalukaraḥ śuciḥ

Translation

ഭിക്ഷുകൻ മഴക്കാലം ഒഴികെ ഒരിടത്ത് മാത്രം താമസിക്കരുത്; മറ്റു കാലങ്ങളിൽ മറ്റിടങ്ങളിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കണം. അവൻ നിത്യസ്നാനവും ശൗചശുദ്ധിയും പാലിച്ച്, കമണ്ഡലു കൈവശം വച്ച്, ശുചിയായി ഇരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

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

• एकत्र: in one place
• एकत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• निवसेत्: should reside
• निवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should dwell’

• देशे: in a place/region
• देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वर्षाभ्यः: from/after the rains
• वर्षाभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), बहुवचन; ‘from the rains/after the rainy season(s)’

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• भिक्षुकः: mendicant/beggar-monk
• भिक्षुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• स्नान-शौचरतः: devoted to bathing and purity
• स्नान-शौचरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त; √रम्/√रञ्ज् ‘to delight/be attached’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘स्नानं च शौचं च’ (dvandva) + रत (क्त/निष्ठा-प्रत्यय), विशेषण—‘devoted to bathing and cleanliness’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कमण्डलु-करः: carrying a water-pot
• कमण्डलु-करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष—‘कमण्डलुं करो यस्य/कमण्डलु-धारकः’ (having/holding a water-pot)

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on dharma-yoga discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• bhikṣuka
• kamaṇḍalu
• varṣā (rainy season)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By emphasizing śauca (inner–outer purity) and non-attachment to place, the verse points to the Atman as unstained and free; the mendicant’s disciplined life mirrors that purity through conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory yogic discipline (yama/niyama-style observances): wandering without clinging, seasonal restraint (staying put only in the rains), and constant snāna–śauca as supports for steadiness in japa, dhyāna, and Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā.

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

Though framed by Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu), the teaching aligns with Śaiva-Pāśupata ascetic norms—showing the Purāṇa’s synthesis where devotion and discipline are shared across Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva yogic-dharmic paths.