Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

दण्डी च मेखली सूत्री कृष्णाजिनधरो मुनिः / भिक्षाहारो गुरुहितो वीक्षमाणो गुरुर्मुखम्

Transliteration

daṇḍī ca mekhalī sūtrī kṛṣṇājinadharo muniḥ / bhikṣāhāro guruhito vīkṣamāṇo gururmukham

Translation

Cầm gậy, mang dây thắt lưng và thánh tuyến, khoác da linh dương đen, người học trò như bậc hiền giả sống nhờ khất thực, một lòng vì lợi ích của thầy, và luôn hướng mắt vào dung nhan của guru để chờ lời chỉ dạy.

Word by Word

• daṇḍī: staff-bearing
• daṇḍī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṇḍin (दण्डिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुं), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); matvartha: 'having a staff'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च-अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (समुच्चय/conjunction)

• mekhalī: girdle-wearing
• mekhalī: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mekhalin (मेखलिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुं), Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'wearing a girdle (mekhalā)'

• sūtrī: thread-wearing
• sūtrī: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūtrin (सूत्रिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'wearing the sacred thread'

• kṛṣṇa-ajina-dharaḥ: wearing a black antelope-skin
• kṛṣṇa-ajina-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण-प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (अजिन-प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (धर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'wearing a black antelope-skin'

• muniḥ: the sage (student)
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhikṣā-hāraḥ: living on alms
• bhikṣā-hāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhikṣā (भिक्षा-प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (हार-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'one whose food is alms'

• guru-hitaḥ: devoted to the teacher’s welfare
• guru-hitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru (गुरु-प्रातिपदिक) + hita (हित-प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'beneficial/devoted to the teacher'

• vīkṣamāṇaḥ: looking at
• vīkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent—concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (ईक्ष्-धातु) with vi- prefix; śatṛ (शतृ) present participle
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'while looking'

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (गुरु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• mukham: face
• mukham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (मुख-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (नपुं), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings (instructional voice of the Purana, attributed to the sage-narrator in the text’s discourse).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Brahmacarin

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes self-restraint, humility, and obedience to right instruction—ethical purification that prepares the mind for Atman-realization taught elsewhere in the Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights preparatory yogic disciplines (yama-like restraints): simplicity, regulated living on bhikṣā, and focused attentiveness to the guru—foundational for later meditation and higher yoga instructions.

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

It does not mention Shiva or Vishnu directly; its takeaway supports the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis by grounding spiritual practice in shared dharma—guru-devotion and discipline—common to both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.