Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 48

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

अपां समीपे नियतो नैत्यकं विधिमाश्रितः / गायत्रीमप्यधीयीत गत्वारण्यं समाहितः

Transliteration

apāṃ samīpe niyato naityakaṃ vidhimāśritaḥ / gāyatrīmapyadhīyīta gatvāraṇyaṃ samāhitaḥ

Translation

நீரருகே ஒழுக்கத்துடன் விதிப்படி தினக்கடமையைச் செய்ய வேண்டும்; பின்னர் மனத்தை ஒருமைப்படுத்தி காடு போன்ற அமைதியிடத்திற்குச் சென்று காயத்ரீயையும் ஜபித்து பயில வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• अपाम्: of waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• समीपे: near
• समीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• नियतः: disciplined
• नियतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणं (of the practitioner)

• नैत्यकम्: daily
• नैत्यकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैत्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘विधिम्’ (daily/regular)

• विधिम्: the rite/procedure
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘आश्रित’ = आश्रयित/अनुष्ठित (having resorted to)

• गायत्रीम्: the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• अधीयीत: should study/recite
• अधीयीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having gone)

• अरण्यम्: to the forest
• अरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal as object)

• समाहितः: composed/concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘समाहित’ = एकाग्रचित्त (collected/concentrated)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Apah (waters)
• Aranya (forest)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing disciplined nitya-karma and focused Gāyatrī recitation, the verse points to inner purification and one-pointedness—prerequisites for recognizing the Self beyond ritual, where mantra and restraint steady the mind toward Atman-realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes niyama (discipline), performance of nitya-karma (especially sandhyā-related conduct implied by “near water”), and Gāyatrī japa/adhyayana in a secluded setting (araṇya) with samāhita-citta (collected attention), aligning with mantra-yoga and preparatory sādhana.

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

While not naming Śiva explicitly, the instruction reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Vaiṣṇava authority (Lord Kūrma) endorses Vedic mantra-discipline and meditative restraint valued across Śaiva-Pāśupata and Vaiṣṇava paths, presenting dharma and yoga as shared means to the one Supreme.