Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

बालः समानजन्मा वा शिष्यो वा यज्ञकर्मणि / अध्यापयन् गुरुसुतो गुरुवन्मानमर्हति

Transliteration

bālaḥ samānajanmā vā śiṣyo vā yajñakarmaṇi / adhyāpayan gurusuto guruvanmānamarhati

Translation

గురుసుతుడు బాలుడైనా, సమవయస్కుడైనా లేదా సహశిష్యుడైనా—యజ్ఞకర్మలో బోధిస్తున్నప్పుడు అతడు గురువుతో సమానమైన గౌరవానికి అర్హుడు।

Word by Word

• बालः: a child/young one
• बालः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• समान-जन्मा: one of the same birth/age-mate
• समान-जन्मा: कर्ता (Subject in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (समानं जन्म यस्य/समानजन्मा)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• शिष्यः: a disciple
• शिष्यः: कर्ता (Subject in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक (or)

• यज्ञ-कर्मणि: in sacrificial rites
• यज्ञ-कर्मणि: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य कर्म)

• अध्यापयन्: teaching/instructing
• अध्यापयन्: विशेषण (Qualifier of गुरुसुतः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + √इ (धातु) + णिच्; अध्यापयत् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle)

• गुरु-सुतः: the teacher’s son
• गुरु-सुतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुरोः सुतः)

• गुरु-वत्: like a teacher
• गुरु-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गुरु + वत् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक (like)

• मानम्: honor/respect
• मानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अर्हति: deserves/is worthy of
• अर्हति: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Kurma Purana narrator (traditional Purāṇic discourse on dharma; presented within the Kurma Purana’s instructional frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Gurusuta
• Shishya
• Yajna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches dharmic discipline—humility and proper honoring of authority—which purifies the mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) and makes one fit for higher knowledge of Ātman taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is stated; the verse emphasizes preparatory yogic ethics—self-restraint, reverence, and orderly conduct in yajña and learning—supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis where inner practice is grounded in dharma.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva or Vishnu; it contributes to the shared dharmic framework that underlies the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis—ritual order and respect for the guru are presented as universal foundations for devotion and spiritual realization.