Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

मृदैकया शिरः क्षाल्यं द्वाभ्यां नाभेस्तथोपरि / अधश्च तिसृभिः कायं पादौ षड्भिस्तथैव च

Transliteration

mṛdaikayā śiraḥ kṣālyaṃ dvābhyāṃ nābhestathopari / adhaśca tisṛbhiḥ kāyaṃ pādau ṣaḍbhistathaiva ca

Translation

ایک بار مٹی سے سر دھوئے؛ دو بار ناف کے اوپر والا حصہ؛ تین بار ناف کے نیچے والا بدن؛ اور اسی طرح چھ بار پاؤں دھوئے۔

Word by Word

• mṛdā: with clay
• mṛdā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ekayā: with one (portion)
• ekayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; numeral adjective agreeing with mṛdā

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kṣālyam: should be washed
• kṣālyam: Vidhi/Prāpyakarma (विधि/प्राप्यकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣāl (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; impersonal obligation: ‘to be washed’

• dvābhyām: with two (portions)
• dvābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); numeral adjective (f./n./m. form)

• nābheḥ: from/than the navel (navel)
• nābheḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (also possible Genitive 6th sg by form); here with upari: ‘above the navel’

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (रीति-वाचक)

• upari: above
• upari: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb/postposition (उपसर्गसदृश)

• adhaḥ: below
• adhaḥ: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhaḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (देशवाचक)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tisṛbhiḥ: with three (portions)
• tisṛbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; feminine numeral form used instrumentally ‘with three (portions)’

• kāyam: body
• kāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pādau: (both) feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ṣaḍbhiḥ: with six (portions)
• ṣaḍbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective ‘with six (portions)’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (रीति-वाचक)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) of emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions as taught in the tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mṛdā (cleansing clay)
• Śauca (purity)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches outer śauca (bodily purity) as a dharmic foundation that steadies the mind for inner śauca—clarity and self-restraint—through which realization of the Atman is approached.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This is a preparatory discipline (aṅga) supporting Yoga: ritual cleanliness and regulated conduct reduce rajas/tamas, making the practitioner fit for mantra-japa, worship, and contemplative practices emphasized in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.

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

It does so by shared dharma: the same śauca standards underpin both Shaiva and Vaishnava worship, reflecting the Purana’s integrative stance that purity and discipline serve devotion to the one Supreme approached through Shiva or Vishnu.