Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 25

Bhojana-vidhi and Nitya-karman: Directions for Eating, Prāṇa-Oblations, Sandhyā, and Conduct Leading to Apavarga

Devanagari script

ततः संध्यामुपासीत पूर्वोक्तविधिना द्विजः / आसीनस्तु जपेद् देवीं गायत्रीं पश्चिमां प्रति

Transliteration

tataḥ saṃdhyāmupāsīta pūrvoktavidhinā dvijaḥ / āsīnastu japed devīṃ gāyatrīṃ paścimāṃ prati

Translation

اس کے بعد دِوِج (دو بار جنما) پہلے بیان کردہ طریقے کے مطابق سندھیا کی اُپاسنا کرے؛ اور بیٹھ کر مغرب رُخ دیوی گایتری کا جپ کرے۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• saṃdhyām: the twilight prayer (sandhyā)
• saṃdhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• upāsīta: should worship/attend upon
• upāsīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ās (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• pūrvokta-vidhinā: by the previously stated procedure
• pūrvokta-vidhinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त, √vac) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karaṇa-instrumental (करण)

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brāhmaṇa/Kṣatriya/Vaiśya)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• āsīnaḥ: seated
• āsīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु) → āsīna (कृदन्त, क्त/क्तवत्-भाव)
• Form: Kṛdanta (कृदन्त) past participial adjective; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with dvijaḥ

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

• japet: should recite/mutter
• japet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• gāyatrīm: Gāyatrī (mantra/deity)
• gāyatrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to devīm

• paścimām: western
• paścimām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with (diśam) implied; used with prati

• prati: towards
• prati: Dik/Adhikarana (दिक्/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-निपात)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), preposition-like particle governing accusative (द्वितीया)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma instructions to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā
• Gāyatrī Devī
• Dvija

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing sandhyā and Gāyatrī-japa, it points to inner purification and steady recollection (smaraṇa) that prepares the mind for realizing the Self beyond ritual—dharma as a support for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A mantra-based discipline: seated japa of Devī Gāyatrī integrated into sandhyā-vandana. This aligns with purāṇic yoga as regulated daily practice (niyama), concentration through repetition, and sanctifying the twilight junctions.

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

It does not mention them explicitly; however, the Kurma Purana’s synthesis is reflected in treating orthodox dharma (sandhyā, Gāyatrī) as a shared foundation that supports higher devotion and yoga across Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava paths.