Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Time-Reckoning (Kāla-gaṇanā): Yugas, Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Prākṛta Pralaya

Devanagari script

त्रिशती द्विशती सन्ध्या तथा चैकशती क्रमात् / अंशकं षट्शतं तस्मात् कृसन्ध्यांशकं विना

Transliteration

triśatī dviśatī sandhyā tathā caikaśatī kramāt / aṃśakaṃ ṣaṭśataṃ tasmāt kṛsandhyāṃśakaṃ vinā

Translation

Theo thứ tự, nghi lễ Sandhyā được quy định tụng niệm ba trăm, hai trăm, rồi một trăm lần. Vì thế tổng cộng thành sáu trăm phần, không kể phần dành cho “kṛ-sandhyā” (Sandhyā thiếu/giản lược).

Word by Word

• त्रिशती: three hundred
• त्रिशती: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + शती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समास (Dvigu)

• द्विशती: two hundred
• द्विशती: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + शती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समास (Dvigu)

• सन्ध्या: junction period (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्या: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• एकशती: one hundred
• एकशती: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + शती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समास (Dvigu)

• क्रमात्: in order; sequentially
• क्रमात्: Hetu/Adhikarana (हेतु/अधिकरण-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘क्रमात्’ = क्रमशः (by sequence)

• अंशकम्: a portion; part
• अंशकम्: Karma (कर्म/फल-रूप)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• षट्शतम्: six hundred
• षट्शतम्: Karma (कर्म/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + शतम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समास (Dvigu)

• तस्मात्: from that; therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृसन्ध्यांशकम्: the sandhyā-portion (qualified as ‘kṛ-’)
• कृसन्ध्यांशकम्: Karma (कर्म/वर्ज्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ + सन्ध्या + अंशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सम्भाव्य: ‘कृ(=कृत/कृच्छ्र/कृश?)’ विशेषणपूर्वक ‘सन्ध्यांशक’

• विना: without; excluding
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वर्जन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-निपात (preposition) ‘without’; सह पञ्चमी/द्वितीया-सम्बन्धः

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-vidhi on Sandhyā-vandana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā
• Gāyatrī

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily procedural (dharma-vidhi) rather than metaphysical: it emphasizes disciplined daily Sandhyā practice, which in the Purāṇic framework purifies the mind and prepares one for realization of Ātman taught elsewhere (including the Ishvara-Gītā sections).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-japa as a regulated practice—specifically counted recitations within Sandhyā-vandana. Such numerical discipline supports dhāraṇā (steady attention) and purity (śauca), functioning as a preparatory limb for deeper meditation in the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-teachings.

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

The verse itself does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it reflects the shared Purāṇic dharma culture in which daily Sandhyā is upheld across sectarian lines, supporting the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis by grounding devotion in common Vedic discipline.