Kurma Purana 2.21.5 — Uttara Bhaga, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 5

Āvāhāryaka-Śrāddha: Qualifications of Recipients, Paṅkti-Pāvana, and Exclusions

Devanagari script

त्रिणाचिकेतच्छन्दोगो ज्येष्ठसामग एव च / अथर्वशिरसो ऽध्येता रुद्राध्यायी विशेषतः

Transliteration

triṇāciketacchandogo jyeṣṭhasāmaga eva ca / atharvaśiraso 'dhyetā rudrādhyāyī viśeṣataḥ

Translation

तो त्रिणाचिकेताचा छांदोग्य असावा, ज्येष्ठ-सामाचा गायकही असावा; अथर्वशिरसाचा अध्येता असावा आणि विशेषतः रुद्र-अध्यायांचा नित्यपाठी असावा।

Word by Word

• त्रिणाचिकेतच्छन्दोगः: a Chāndogya (Sāmavedin) of the tri-nāciketa (rite/tradition)
• त्रिणाचिकेतच्छन्दोगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नाचिकेत (प्रातिपदिक) + छन्दोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विशेष्यः: छन्दोगः; विशेषणम्: त्रि-नाचिकेतः)

• ज्येष्ठसामगः: a foremost Sāmaga (Sāmavedic chanter)
• ज्येष्ठसामगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + सामग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'ज्येष्ठः सामगः'

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

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

• अथर्वशिरसः: of the Atharvaśiras (Upaniṣad/text)
• अथर्वशिरसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; 'अथर्वशिरस्'-ग्रन्थस्य

• अध्येता: a student/reciter
• अध्येता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) → अध्येतृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि तृन्-प्रत्यय (agent noun)

• रुद्राध्यायी: one who studies/recites (texts) of Rudra
• रुद्राध्यायी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यायी (अधि-इ धातु से कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'रुद्रस्य अध्यायी'

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇic teaching on Rudra-oriented Vedic study and qualifications

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Chāndogya
• Sāman (Sāmaveda chant)
• Atharvaśiras
• Rudra (Śiva)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing Vedic adhyayana and Rudra-recitation, it points to realization through śruti-based discipline—where Rudra is approached as the supreme principle to be known through sacred sound and study.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Mantra-centered discipline: systematic Vedic chanting (Sāman), study of Atharvaśiras, and focused repetition/study of Rudra-adhyāyas—supporting concentration (dhāraṇā) and devotional absorption aligned with Pāśupata-style Rudra-upāsanā.

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

By presenting Rudra-upāsanā as authoritative within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Rudra is upheld as a legitimate, śruti-rooted path within the broader unity of the supreme divine.