Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 10

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

उद्धृत्य दक्षिणं बाहुं सव्ये बाहौ समर्पितम् / उपवीतं भवेन्नित्यं निवीतं कण्ठसज्जने

Transliteration

uddhṛtya dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ savye bāhau samarpitam / upavītaṃ bhavennityaṃ nivītaṃ kaṇṭhasajjane

Translation

Mengangkat lengan kanan dan meletakkan benang suci (upavīta) pada lengan kiri ialah cara upavīta yang benar untuk amalan harian. Namun apabila ia dipakai hingga berehat di leher, ia disebut nivīta.

Word by Word

• uddhṛtya: having lifted
• uddhṛtya: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√hṛ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having lifted/raising’

• dakṣiṇam: right
• dakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण of bāhum

• bāhum: arm
• bāhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• savye: on the left
• savye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘on the left’ (locative)

• bāhau: on the arm
• bāhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• samarpitam: placed/arranged
• samarpitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arp (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘placed/arranged’

• upavītam: upavīta (sacred thread worn over left shoulder)
• upavītam: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• bhavet: should be/is to be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• nivītam: nivīta (thread worn around the neck)
• nivītam: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; predicate nominative (another mode)

• kaṇṭha-sajjane: when placed on the neck
• kaṇṭha-sajjane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha + sajjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कण्ठे सज्जनम्/सज्जने), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative condition ‘when arranged on the neck’

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-instructions as transmitted by the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Upavīta
• Nivīta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it teaches disciplined outer conduct (ācāra) in nitya-karma, which the Purāṇic tradition treats as a supportive foundation for inner purity and Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No meditation technique is taught here; the emphasis is on ritual yogic discipline—correctly arranging the upavīta as part of daily observances (nitya-karman), aligning body, duty, and attention.

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

The verse is procedural and does not mention Śiva–Viṣṇu explicitly; indirectly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where shared dharma-ācāra supports devotion and yoga across Shaiva and Vaishnava frameworks.