Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

निष्पीड्य स्नानवस्त्रं तु समाचम्य च वाग्यतः / स्वैर्मन्त्रैरर्चयेद् देवान् पुष्पैः पत्रैरथाम्बुभिः

Transliteration

niṣpīḍya snānavastraṃ tu samācamya ca vāgyataḥ / svairmantrairarcayed devān puṣpaiḥ patrairathāmbubhiḥ

Translation

غسل کے کپڑے کو نچوڑ کر، پھر خاموشی و ضبطِ کلام کے ساتھ آچمن کرے۔ اس کے بعد اپنے منترَوں سے دیوتاؤں کی ارچنا کرے—پھولوں، پتّوں یا حتیٰ کہ پانی سے بھی۔

Word by Word

• niṣpīḍya: having wrung out
• niṣpīḍya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niṣ-pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having squeezed/pressed out'

• snāna-vastram: the bathing cloth
• snāna-vastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'bathing-cloth'

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

• samācamya: having performed ācamana
• samācamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-cam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having sipped (water) properly' (ācamana)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (कृदन्त, क्त; from yam धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective: 'restrained in speech'

• svaiḥ: with one’s own
• svaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'mantraiḥ'

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• patraiḥ: with leaves
• patraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• atha: and then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• ambubhiḥ: with water
• ambubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Traditional narration (Purana narrator instructing ritual conduct within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-vidhi section)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Mantra
• Achamana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that inner purity and self-restraint (especially control of speech) are prerequisites for worship—implying that realization and devotion begin with disciplined embodiment and purified conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Vāg-yama (restraint of speech) and śauca (purification) are emphasized: after snāna and ācamana, the practitioner performs mantra-archana, aligning body, speech, and mind—an applied foundation consistent with Pashupata-style discipline.

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

It presents a non-sectarian ritual principle: worship of ‘devas’ through mantra and purity is valid regardless of the specific form of Īśvara invoked, matching the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony in practical dharma.