Shloka 6

Śrāddha-Kāla-Nirṇaya: Proper Times, Nakṣatra Fruits, Tīrtha Merit, and Offerings for Ancestral Rites

Devanagari script

नैमित्तिकं तु कर्तव्यं ग्रहणे चन्द्रसूर्ययोः / बान्धवानां च मरणे नारकी स्यादतो ऽन्यथा

Transliteration

naimittikaṃ tu kartavyaṃ grahaṇe candrasūryayoḥ / bāndhavānāṃ ca maraṇe nārakī syādato 'nyathā

Translation

சந்திர-சூரிய கிரகணங்களின்போதும், உறவினரின் மரணத்தின்போதும் நைமித்திக கர்மங்களை நிச்சயமாகச் செய்ய வேண்டும்; இல்லையெனில் நரகத்திற்குரியவனாகிறான்.

Word by Word

• नैमित्तिकम्: an occasional rite
• नैमित्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; 'occasional (rite)' as substantive

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), emphasis/contrast

• कर्तव्यम्: must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative, तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'is to be done'

• ग्रहणे: at an eclipse
• ग्रहणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative—'at an eclipse'

• चन्द्र-सूर्ययोः: of the moon and the sun
• चन्द्र-सूर्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; genitive—'of the moon and the sun'

• बान्धवानाम्: of relatives
• बान्धवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; genitive—'of relatives'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मरणे: at (the time of) death
• मरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative—'on death'

• नारकी: a hell-dweller (one destined for hell)
• नारकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; predicate noun

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; 'would be/may become'

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — 'therefore/from this'

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — 'otherwise'

Speaker

Sage (Purana narrator) instructing on dharma (naimittika-karman) within the Kurma Purana discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Surya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Atman; instead, it emphasizes dharmic discipline—performing prescribed occasional rites—which the Purana treats as supportive purification (śuddhi) that steadies the mind for higher knowledge and yoga.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught in this verse; it highlights karmic observance (naimittika-karman) during eclipses and bereavement as a preparatory limb—ethical-ritual steadiness that complements later yogic and devotional teachings in the Kurma Purana.

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

This verse is primarily dharma-focused and does not explicitly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it reflects the Purana’s broader synthesis by framing ritual duty as part of the same spiritual order that culminates in devotion and liberation taught elsewhere.