Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 8

Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

श्राद्धं दानं तपो होम उपवासस्तथाक्षयः / परित्यजति यः प्राणान् रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति

Transliteration

śrāddhaṃ dānaṃ tapo homa upavāsastathākṣayaḥ / parityajati yaḥ prāṇān rudralokaṃ sa gacchati

Translation

ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ, ଦାନ, ତପ, ହୋମ, ଉପବାସ ଓ ଅକ୍ଷୟ ପୁଣ୍ୟରେ ନିଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇ ଯେ ପ୍ରାଣ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରେ, ସେ ରୁଦ୍ରଲୋକକୁ ଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (form tapaḥ)

• homam: fire-offering
• homam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

• upavāsaḥ: fasting
• upavāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/रीतिवाचक (particle/adverb: ‘thus/and also’)

• akṣayaḥ: imperishable (merit)
• akṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/समुच्चितपद (as a listed item: ‘imperishable/undiminishing’)

• parityajati: abandons/gives up
• parityajati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + tyaj (√त्यज्, धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• prāṇān: life-breaths; life
• prāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), बहुवचन (plural)

• rudra-lokam: Rudra’s world
• rudra-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘रुद्रस्य लोकः’)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम (correlative pronoun)

• gacchati: goes/attains
• gacchati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (√गम्, धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Purāṇic dialogue framework (Vyāsa/Sūta conveying the teaching of dharma); the verse itself states the result rather than a named speaker’s direct address.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Rudraloka
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Tapas
• Homa
• Upavāsa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not define Ātman directly; it emphasizes dharmic disciplines and the state of one’s final relinquishing of prāṇa as shaping post-mortem attainment, here expressed as reaching Rudra’s realm.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds vow-based discipline (upavāsa), austerity (tapas), and ritual concentration (homa) as means of purifying intention and generating akṣaya-puṇya (imperishable merit), aligning with Purāṇic yoga as sustained restraint and sacred action.

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

By presenting Rudra’s realm as a legitimate highest destination within the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching, it reflects the text’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis where devotion and merit may culminate in Śaiva attainment without sectarian exclusion.