Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नात्वा विशुद्धात्मा दम्भमात्सर्यवर्जितः / ददाति यत्किञ्चिदपि पुनात्युभयतः कुलम्

Transliteration

tatra snātvā viśuddhātmā dambhamātsaryavarjitaḥ / dadāti yatkiñcidapi punātyubhayataḥ kulam

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ଶୁଦ୍ଧଚିତ୍ତ, ଦମ୍ଭ ଓ ମାତ୍ସର୍ୟରହିତ ଯେ, ସେ ଯଦି ଅଳ୍ପମାତ୍ର ଦାନ ମଧ୍ୟ କରେ, ତେବେ ଜନ୍ମକୁଳ ଓ ବିବାହକୁଳ—ଉଭୟକୁ ପବିତ୍ର କରେ।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): having bathed

• विशुद्धात्मा: one of purified self
• विशुद्धात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशुद्ध + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विशुद्धः आत्मा यस्य सः = one whose self is purified)

• दम्भमात्सर्यवर्जितः: free from hypocrisy and envy
• दम्भमात्सर्यवर्जितः: Visheshana (विशेषण; qualifying subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम्भ + मात्सर्य + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज्+क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दम्भं मात्सर्यं च वर्जितः = free from hypocrisy and envy)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘whatever’ (correlative)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म; appositive to यत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (indefinite: something/anything)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• उभयतः: on both sides
• उभयतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: on both sides/ways; i.e., both maternal and paternal)

• कुलम्: family/lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tīrtha-māhātmya teaching to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Dana
• Kula

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that inner purity (viśuddhātmā) is primary: ritual acts like tīrtha-bath bear fruit when the self is cleansed of egoic display (dambha) and envy (mātsarya), aligning conduct with dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights ethical purification—freedom from hypocrisy and envy—as a practical foundation akin to yama/niyama; it frames outer rites (snāna, dāna) as effective when supported by inner discipline.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s integrative stance: purification and dharmic giving are presented as universally efficacious spiritual means, consistent with the shared Shaiva–Vaishnava emphasis on inner purity over mere externalism.