Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणैस्ते सहाश्नन्ति पितरो ह्यन्तरिक्षगाः / वायुभूतास्तु तिष्ठन्ति भुक्त्वा यान्ति परां गतिम्

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaiste sahāśnanti pitaro hyantarikṣagāḥ / vāyubhūtāstu tiṣṭhanti bhuktvā yānti parāṃ gatim

Translation

ଅନ୍ତରିକ୍ଷରେ ଗତି କରୁଥିବା ସେହି ପିତୃମାନେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଅର୍ପିତ ଅନ୍ନ ଭୋଗ କରନ୍ତି। ସେମାନେ ବାୟୁରୂପ ହୋଇ ସେଠାରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ରହନ୍ତି; ତୃପ୍ତ ହୋଇ ଭୋଗାନ୍ତେ ପରମ ଗତିକୁ ଯାଆନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇaiḥ: with the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇaiḥ: Saha (सह/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• saha: together (with)
• saha: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, preposition/adverb ‘together with’ (सह-अव्यय)

• aśnanti: eat
• aśnanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• antarikṣa-gāḥ: moving in the mid-air
• antarikṣa-gāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antarikṣa + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘going in the sky’ (pitaraḥ-viśeṣaṇa)

• vāyu-bhūtāḥ: having become wind-like
• vāyu-bhūtāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu + bhūta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘become air/wind-like’

• tu: but/and then
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adversative/contrast particle (निपात)

• tiṣṭhanti: stand; remain
• tiṣṭhanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having eaten’

• yānti: go
• yānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural

• parām: supreme
• parām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; gatim-viśeṣaṇa

• gatim: state/goal
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on Śrāddha-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Brahmanas
• Antariksha
• Vayu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharma and subtle causality—offerings made in the visible ritual sphere reach subtle beings (Pitṛs) who then attain a “higher state,” pointing to graded spiritual destinies governed by dharma rather than mere material action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse is primarily karma-kāṇḍa (Śrāddha and pitṛ-yajña). In the Kurma Purana’s integrated path, such disciplined ritual action supports inner purification (citta-śuddhi), which later becomes fit for yoga and higher knowledge.

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

Not explicitly; yet it reflects the Purana’s synthesis by presenting Viṣṇu (as Kūrma) teaching dharma that is equally honored in Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava traditions—ritual duty as a foundation for liberation-oriented practice.