Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

उत्तरं तु समाख्यातं वासः कृष्णाजिनं शुभम् / अभावे गव्यमजिनं रौरवं वा विधीयते

Transliteration

uttaraṃ tu samākhyātaṃ vāsaḥ kṛṣṇājinaṃ śubham / abhāve gavyamajinaṃ rauravaṃ vā vidhīyate

Translation

اوپری لباس کے طور پر مبارک کِرشن اجِن (کالے ہرن کی کھال) بیان ہوا ہے۔ اگر وہ نہ ملے تو گائے کی کھال، یا رَورَو ہرن کی کھال مقرر ہے۔

Word by Word

• uttaram: the upper (garment)
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here as predicate/thing described

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), adversative/emphatic

• samākhyātam: has been stated/declared
• samākhyātam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; passive sense ‘has been declared’

• vāsaḥ: garment/clothing
• vāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• kṛṣṇājinaṃ: black antelope-skin
• kṛṣṇājinaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृष्णस्य अजिनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to vāsaḥ/uttaram

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of kṛṣṇājinaṃ/vāsaḥ

• abhāve: in the absence (of it)
• abhāve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative of condition

• gavyam: bovine/cow-related
• gavyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ajinaṃ

• ajinam: skin/hide
• ajinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• rauravam: raurava (deer/ruru) skin
• rauravam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective used substantively (a raurava-skin, i.e., from ruru/deer)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• vidhīyate: is prescribed/ordained
• vidhīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in dharma-vidhi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define the Atman; it supports dharma through external discipline and purity, which the Kurma Purana treats as preparatory (bahiraṅga) aids for inner steadiness conducive to Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is stated; the verse emphasizes niyama-like discipline—regulated, pure observance and appropriate attire for sacred rites—supporting steadiness of mind that later aligns with Pashupata-oriented sadhana in the Kurma Purana.

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

Indirectly: Vishnu as Lord Kurma teaches dharma-vidhi that is shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava observance, reflecting the Purana’s harmonizing stance that one sacred order supports devotion to the one Supreme approached through different forms.