Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

नित्यं स्वाध्यायशीलः स्यान्नित्यं यज्ञोपवीतवान् / सत्यवादी जितक्रोधो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

Transliteration

nityaṃ svādhyāyaśīlaḥ syānnityaṃ yajñopavītavān / satyavādī jitakrodho brahmabhūyāya kalpate

Translation

Người ấy phải luôn chuyên cần tự học kinh điển, luôn đeo dây thiêng yajñopavīta; lời nói chân thật, đã chế ngự sân hận—như vậy mới xứng đáng đạt đến brahmahood, trạng thái đồng nhất với Phạm (Brahman).

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always’

• स्वाध्याय-शीलः: habitually devoted to self-study
• स्वाध्याय-शीलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective): ‘one whose nature is self-study’

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘always’

• यज्ञोपवीत-वान्: wearing the sacred thread
• यज्ञोपवीत-वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञोपवीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘possessed of the sacred thread’ (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• सत्य-वादी: truthful (truth-speaking)
• सत्य-वादी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘truth-speaking’

• जित-क्रोधः: having conquered anger
• जित-क्रोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि धातु) + क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘one whose anger is conquered’

• ब्रह्म-भूयाय: for attaining Brahmanhood
• ब्रह्म-भूयाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान: ‘for Brahman-state’

• कल्पते: is fit / becomes qualified
• कल्पते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and spiritual qualification

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (brahma-bhūya)
• Veda (svādhyāya)
• Yajñopavīta (sacred thread)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames brahmahood as a realizable state: by purification through truth, self-discipline, and sacred study, one becomes qualified for Brahman-realization rather than treating it as merely theoretical.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes preparatory yogic disciplines: svādhyāya (scriptural recitation and contemplative study) and krodha-jaya (mastery over anger), which stabilize the mind and support higher meditation and devotion.

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

It presents a non-sectarian path where ethical restraint and sacred discipline lead to brahmahood—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis in which ultimate realization transcends sectarian identity while honoring both Shaiva and Vaishnava frameworks.