Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

या दिव्या इति मन्त्रण हस्ते त्वर्घं विनिक्षिपेत् / प्रदद्याद् गन्धमाल्यानि धूपादीनि च शक्तितः

Transliteration

yā divyā iti mantraṇa haste tvarghaṃ vinikṣipet / pradadyād gandhamālyāni dhūpādīni ca śaktitaḥ

Translation

Recitando o mantra que começa com “yā divyā…”, deve colocar a oferenda de arghya na mão (da divindade ou do destinatário venerado). Em seguida, conforme a sua capacidade, ofereça fragrâncias, grinaldas, incenso e os demais itens usuais de culto.

Word by Word

• yā: with which
• yā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun referring to ‘ṛc/mantra’ understood

• divyā: divine
• divyā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying the implied ‘ṛc/mantra’

• iti: thus
• iti: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle

• mantraṇa: with (that) mantra-recitation
• mantraṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Instrumental (3-तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with the recitation/with the mantra’

• haste: in the hand
• haste: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7-सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• argham: arghya-offering (respectful water)
• argham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: argha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vinikṣipet: should place/offer
• vinikṣipet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√kṣip (क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pradadyāt: should give
• pradadyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• gandha-mālyāni: perfumes and garlands
• gandha-mālyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective), Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); dvandva ‘fragrances and garlands’

• dhūpa-ādīni: incense and the like
• dhūpa-ādīni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2-द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘incense etc.’

• ca: and
• ca: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• śaktitaḥ: according to one’s capacity
• śaktitaḥ: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्)
• Form: Avyaya; ablatival adverb (तसिलन्त अव्यय) meaning ‘according to ability’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna (ritual guidance within the Kurma Purana narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Arghya
• Mantra
• Gandha
• Mālya
• Dhūpa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that the Supreme is approached through disciplined upacāra (ritual honor) empowered by mantra, emphasizing ordered devotion as a means to inner alignment rather than mere external display.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-yoga in a ritual setting: focused recitation with deliberate offering (arghya, gandha, mālā, dhūpa) trains attention (ekāgratā) and devotion (bhakti), supporting the broader Kurma Purana discipline that culminates in higher contemplative practice.

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

By presenting a shared, orthodox pūjā-grammar (mantra + upacāra) used across Shaiva and Vaishnava worship, the verse reflects the Purana’s integrative stance: one Supreme is honored through a common ritual and yogic discipline.