Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

वेदाभ्यासो ऽन्वहं शक्त्या श्राद्धं चातिथिपूजनम् / गृहस्थस्य परो धर्मो देवताभ्यर्चनं तथा

Transliteration

vedābhyāso 'nvahaṃ śaktyā śrāddhaṃ cātithipūjanam / gṛhasthasya paro dharmo devatābhyarcanaṃ tathā

Translation

गृहस्थस्य परो धर्मः—शक्त्यान्वहं वेदाभ्यासः, श्राद्धकर्म च, अतिथिपूजनं, तथा देवतानामर्चनं च।

Word by Word

• veda-abhyāsaḥ: study/practice of the Veda
• veda-abhyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: वेदानाम् अभ्यासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• anu-aham: daily
• anu-aham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण)

• śaktyā: according to ability
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• atithi-pūjanam: worship/honouring of guests
• atithi-pūjanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: अतिथेः पूजनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• gṛhasthasya: of the householder
• gṛhasthasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• paraḥ: highest
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of dharmaḥ

• dharmaḥ: duty; dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• devatā-abhyarcanam: worship of deities
• devatā-abhyarcanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyarcana (प्रातिपदिक; abhi-√arc)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: देवतानाम् अभ्यर्चनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tathā: also; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on varṇāśrama-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Atithi (guest)
• Devatā (deities)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not define Ātman directly; it grounds spiritual life in gṛhastha-dharma—Vedic study, śrāddha, hospitality, and deity-worship—as purifying disciplines that prepare one for higher realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga-like foundations for householders: disciplined svādhyāya (Vedic study), ritual offerings (śrāddha), atithi-sevā, and devatā-arcana—practices that steady the mind and sanctify daily action.

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

It presents a non-sectarian frame: worship of “devatās” is affirmed as dharma, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where devotion and duty are upheld beyond narrow exclusivism.