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Shloka 31

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

गुरूणामपि सर्वेषां पूज्याः पञ्च विशेषतः / तेषामाद्यास्त्रयः श्रेष्ठास्तेषां माता सुपूजिता

gurūṇāmapi sarveṣāṃ pūjyāḥ pañca viśeṣataḥ / teṣāmādyāstrayaḥ śreṣṭhāsteṣāṃ mātā supūjitā

Даже среди всех наставников особо почитаемы пятеро. Из них первые трое — наивысшие; и среди них мать должна быть почитаема с величайшей честью.

गुरूणाम्of teachers
गुरूणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formparticle: even/also
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive, Plural
पूज्याःworthy of worship
पूज्याः:
Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपूज्य (प्रातिपदिक; पूज् धातोः यत्)
Formयत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be worshipped’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural
पञ्चfive
पञ्च:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसंख्यावाचक (indeclinable-like numeral here), प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थ; numeral ‘five’
विशेषतःespecially
विशेषतः:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविशेषतः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb: especially)
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive, Plural
आद्याःthe first
आद्याः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural
त्रयःthree
त्रयः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural
श्रेष्ठाःexcellent/supreme
श्रेष्ठाः:
Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive, Plural
माताmother
माता:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular
सुपूजिताwell-worshipped / greatly honored
सुपूजिता:
Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसु-पूजित (प्रातिपदिक; पूज् धातोः क्त)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (सु + पूजिता); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Lord Kūrma (as instructor of dharma to the sages/seekers in the narrative frame)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

G
Guru
M
Mātā (Mother)

FAQs

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual realization rests on humility and right relationship—reverence to the primary sources of formation (especially the mother) purifies the mind, making it fit for knowledge of the Self.

No technique is prescribed; the verse gives the yama-like ethical foundation—honoring gurus and especially one’s mother as a discipline of reverence (sevā, vinaya) that supports later Yoga and devotion in the Kurma Purana’s path.

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu; it aligns with the Purana’s synthesis by grounding both Shaiva and Vaishnava sādhanā in shared dharmic ethics—reverence, gratitude, and disciplined conduct.