Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञोपवीती देवानां निवीती ऋषीतर्पणे / प्राचीनावीती पित्र्ये तु स्वेन तीर्थेन भावतः

Transliteration

yajñopavītī devānāṃ nivītī ṛṣītarpaṇe / prācīnāvītī pitrye tu svena tīrthena bhāvataḥ

Translation

دیوتاؤں کے عمل میں یجنوپویت کو اُپویت طریقے سے پہنے؛ رشی ترپن میں نِویت طریقے سے؛ اور پِتروں کے عمل میں پراچیناوِیت طریقے سے—ہر ایک اپنے مقررہ تیرتھ اور درست بھاؤ (نیت) کے ساتھ۔

Word by Word

• yajñopavītī: wearing the sacred thread in upavīta position
• yajñopavītī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yajña-upavīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective meaning 'wearing the yajñopavīta in the proper way' (upavītin)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nivītī: wearing (the thread) in nivīta position
• nivītī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective 'in nivīta position'

• ṛṣi-tarpaṇe: in the rite of tarpaṇa for sages
• ṛṣi-tarpaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'in the tarpaṇa for sages'

• prācīna-āvītī: wearing (the thread) in prācīnāvīta position
• prācīna-āvītī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prācīna (प्रातिपदिक) + āvīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'prācīna (over right shoulder) āvīta'

• pitrye: in the ancestral rite
• pitrye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'in the ancestral (rite)'

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक अव्यय)

• svena: with one’s own
• svena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'tīrthena'

• tīrthena: with the (proper) tīrtha (hand-position)
• tīrthena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); here 'hand-position/ritual tīrtha'

• bhāvataḥ: properly/as is fitting
• bhāvataḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय) meaning 'in accordance with intention/true sense'

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna / the sages on dharma-vidhi (ritual discipline)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Yajñopavīta
• Tarpaṇa
• Tīrtha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a dharma-vidhi teaching: it emphasizes correct outer discipline (yajñopavīta positions and tīrtha usage) supported by bhāva (right inner intent), implying that inner disposition is essential even when performing external rites.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yogic technique is taught here; instead, it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader sādhanā framework by insisting that ritual actions be done with correct bhāva—an inner attentiveness that complements later meditative and Pāśupata-oriented teachings.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; its contribution to the Kurma Purana’s synthesis is indirect—showing a shared dharmic ground where disciplined rites and inner bhāva are upheld as universally valid within the Purāṇic (Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava) spiritual ecosystem.