Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

पवित्रपाणिः पूतात्मा शुक्लाम्बरधरोत्तरः / अनन्यमानसो वह्निं जुहुयात् संयतेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

pavitrapāṇiḥ pūtātmā śuklāmbaradharottaraḥ / ananyamānaso vahniṃ juhuyāt saṃyatendriyaḥ

Translation

پاک کیے ہوئے ہاتھوں اور پاکیزہ باطن کے ساتھ، صاف سفید لباس پہن کر، مقررہ آسن میں ثابت قدم رہتے ہوئے، یکسو دل اور قابو میں رکھی ہوئی حِسّیات کے ساتھ مقدس آگ میں آہوتی دینی چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• pavitra-pāṇiḥ: one whose hands are pure
• pavitra-pāṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: pavitrāḥ pāṇayaḥ yasya saḥ

• pūta-ātmā: pure-souled
• pūta-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: pūta ātmā yasya saḥ

• śukla-ambara-dhara-uttaraḥ: excellent, wearing white garments
• śukla-ambara-dhara-uttaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi (multi-member): śuklam ambaraṃ dharati, uttaraḥ (excellent)

• ananya-mānasaḥ: with undistracted mind
• ananya-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananya (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ananyaṃ mānasaṃ yasya saḥ

• vahnim: the fire
• vahnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• juhuyāt: should offer (oblation)
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (हु धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• saṃyata-indriyaḥ: self-controlled (with restrained senses)
• saṃyata-indriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (प्रातिपदिक; from sam√yam + kta) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: saṃyatāni indriyāṇi yasya saḥ

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in dharma and ritual-yoga discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Homa
• Vaidika Dharma
• Yama (sense-restraint)
• Shauca (purity)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By insisting on a “purified inner self” and one-pointed attention, the verse implies that true worship is not merely external: inner purification and mental steadiness are essential for aligning the individual self with the sacred order (dharma) that reflects the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes shauca (purity), indriya-saṃyama (sense-restraint), and ananya-citta (single-pointed mind). These are classic preparatory yogic disciplines that make ritual action a form of karma-yoga—outer offering supported by inner concentration.

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

Though the verse speaks in Vaidika-ritual language, its stress on purity, restraint, and one-pointedness matches the Purana’s integrative teaching: the same disciplined worship can be directed toward the one Supreme revered as Vishnu (Kurma) and also affirmed in Shaiva-Pashupata frameworks.