Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

उदकं निनयेच्छेषं शनैः पिण्डान्तिके पुनः / अवजिघ्रेच्च तान् पिण्डान् यथान्युप्तान् समाहितः

Transliteration

udakaṃ ninayeccheṣaṃ śanaiḥ piṇḍāntike punaḥ / avajighrecca tān piṇḍān yathānyuptān samāhitaḥ

Translation

Kemudian, dengan ketenangan, dia hendaklah membawa perlahan-lahan air yang berbaki kembali dekat kepada piṇḍa; dan dengan minda terhimpun, dia hendaklah menghidu lembut piṇḍa itu sebagaimana ia diletakkan.

Word by Word

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ninayet: should bring
• ninayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√nī (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada; 'should lead/bring'

• śeṣam: remaining
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to udakam: 'remaining'

• śanaiḥ: slowly
• śanaiḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb: 'slowly'

• piṇḍa-antike: near the rice-balls
• piṇḍa-antike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'near the piṇḍa(s)'

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb: 'again/further'

• avajighret: should smell
• avajighret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; 'should smell/sniff'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; demonstrative qualifying piṇḍān

• piṇḍān: rice-balls
• piṇḍān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb/conjunction of manner: 'as/according to how'

• ni-uptān: placed
• ni-uptān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni√vap/ni√up (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; 'placed/installed' qualifying piṇḍān

• samāhitaḥ: being attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'composed/attentive'

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-vidhi to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Piṇḍa (funerary offering)
• Udaka (water offering)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not teach Ātman metaphysics directly; it emphasizes samāhita-citta (collected attention) in dharmic action, implying that inner discipline and purity of intention are integral to sacred rites.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key practice is samādhāna—steady, composed attention while performing śrāddha. This aligns with the Purāṇic ethic that ritual becomes spiritually effective when supported by mental concentration and restraint.

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

This specific verse is procedural (śrāddha-vidhi) and does not mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity explicitly; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis by grounding devotion and liberation-oriented traditions in disciplined dharma practice.