Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

Agnihotra, Seasonal Śrauta Duties, and the Authority of Śruti–Smṛti–Purāṇa

Devanagari script

उभावभिहितौ धर्मौ वेदादेव विनिः सृतौ / शिष्टाचारस्तृतीयः स्याच्छ्रतिस्मृत्योरलाभतः

Transliteration

ubhāvabhihitau dharmau vedādeva viniḥ sṛtau / śiṣṭācārastṛtīyaḥ syācchratismṛtyoralābhataḥ

Translation

Cả hai pháp (dharma) ấy quả thật phát xuất từ Veda. Khi không có Śruti và Smṛti để nương tựa, thì hạnh kiểm của bậc hiền trí, người có văn hóa (śiṣṭa-ācāra) trở thành thẩm quyền thứ ba.

Word by Word

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• abhihitau: stated/declared
• abhihitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√dhā (धा) + kta (क्त) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• dharmau: two dharmas (duties/laws)
• dharmau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vedāt: from the Veda
• vedāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• viniḥsṛtau: issued forth/derived
• viniḥsṛtau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-niḥ-√sṛ (सृ) + kta (क्त) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• śiṣṭa-ācāraḥ: conduct of the learned/virtuous
• śiṣṭa-ācāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tṛtīyaḥ: third
• tṛtīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• syāt: would be/is to be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śruti-smṛtyoḥ: of śruti and smṛti
• śruti-smṛtyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + smṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• alābhataḥ: from non-availability (in absence)
• alābhataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘due to’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma-pramāṇa (authorities of dharma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Śruti
• Smṛti
• Śiṣṭa (the learned/virtuous)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it grounds spiritual life in Vedic authority—dharma rooted in Śruti supports right knowledge and right practice, which are prerequisites for realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; it establishes the ethical-legal foundation for Yoga: practice should align with Śruti and Smṛti, and when texts are unavailable, one should follow the disciplined conduct of realized and learned exemplars (śiṣṭas).

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

It presents a unifying Purāṇic stance: regardless of sectarian emphasis, dharma is ultimately Veda-derived; both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths are validated when aligned with Śruti, Smṛti, and śiṣṭācāra.