Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

एषा तिथिर्वैष्णवीं स्याद् द्वादशी शुक्लपक्षके / तस्यामाराधयेद् देवं प्रयत्नेन जनार्दनम्

Transliteration

eṣā tithirvaiṣṇavīṃ syād dvādaśī śuklapakṣake / tasyāmārādhayed devaṃ prayatnena janārdanam

Translation

Ang tithing ito ay tinatawag na banal na araw ng Vaiṣṇava—ang Dvādaśī sa maliwanag na kalahati ng buwan. Sa araw na iyon, dapat sambahin nang taimtim at masikap ang Panginoong Janārdana.

Word by Word

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तिथिः: lunar day (tithi)
• तिथिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• वैष्णवीम्: Vaiṣṇavī (pertaining to Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• स्यात्: would be / should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (parasmaipada)

• द्वादशी: the twelfth (tithi)
• द्वादशी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• शुक्लपक्षके: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्लपक्षके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla-pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa) ‘शुक्लस्य पक्षः’; पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• तस्याम्: on that (tithi)
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• आराधयेत्: should worship
• आराधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rādh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (parasmaipada)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Traditional narration in the Kurma Purana (instructional voice within the Purana’s vrata-teaching context; commonly framed as sage-led exposition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not define Ātman philosophically; it emphasizes dharmic timing (Dvādaśī) and focused devotion to Janārdana as a practical means to orient the self toward the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights disciplined worship (ārādhana) performed with prayatna (steadfast effort). In Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual framework, such vrata-based devotion supports mental steadiness and purity that complement yogic practice.

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

This specific verse is explicitly Vaiṣṇava, centering on Janārdana; within the Kurma Purana’s wider Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such devotion is typically presented as compatible with overarching dharma and yogic discipline rather than sectarian conflict.