Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

न तिष्ठति तु यः पुर्वां नास्ते संध्यां तु पश्चिमाम् / स शूद्रेण समो लोके सर्वधर्मविवर्जितः

Transliteration

na tiṣṭhati tu yaḥ purvāṃ nāste saṃdhyāṃ tu paścimām / sa śūdreṇa samo loke sarvadharmavivarjitaḥ

Translation

جو نہ صبح کی سندھیا کرتا ہے اور نہ شام کی سندھیا بجا لاتا ہے، وہ دنیا میں شودر کے برابر—تمام دھرم سے محروم—سمجھا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• tiṣṭhati: stands
• tiṣṭhati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

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

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun (सम्बन्ध-प्रयोग)

• purvām: eastern
• purvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with (diśam) implied

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• āste: sits
• āste: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• saṃdhyām: sandhyā (twilight prayer)
• saṃdhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

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

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

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• śūdreṇa: with a Śūdra / as a Śūdra
• śūdreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; comparison-instrumental (उपमान-तृतीया)

• samaḥ: equal, comparable
• samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective of saḥ

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative of sphere

• sarva-dharma-vivarjitaḥ: devoid of all religious duties
• sarva-dharma-vivarjitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√vṛj (धातु) → vivarjita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta adjective; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate of saḥ; compound meaning 'devoid of all dharmas'

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on varṇāśrama-dharma and nitya-karma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma
• Sandhyā
• Śūdra
• Dharma
• Varṇāśrama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames daily Sandhyā as a purifying discipline that steadies the practitioner’s mind and conduct, creating the ethical and ritual foundation traditionally considered necessary for higher knowledge of Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Sandhyā-vandana is emphasized as nitya-karma: twilight worship with mantra-japa, ācamana, prāṇāyāma, and contemplative reverence to the divine light—supporting inner purification that complements yoga practice.

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

Though not naming Śiva directly, the verse reflects the Purana’s synthesis: disciplined daily worship and purification are upheld as universal prerequisites for devotion and yoga directed to Īśvara—understood in the Kūrma tradition as harmonizing Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva orientations.