Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Narmadā-māhātmya: Amarakāṇṭaka, Jāleśvara, Kapilā–Viśalyakaraṇī, and the Supreme Purifying Power of Darśana

Devanagari script

तत्र पिण्डप्रदानेन संध्योपासनकर्मणा / दशवर्षाणि पितरस्तर्पिताः स्युर्न संशयः

Transliteration

tatra piṇḍapradānena saṃdhyopāsanakarmaṇā / daśavarṣāṇi pitarastarpitāḥ syurna saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Tại đó, nhờ dâng piṇḍa (viên cơm cúng) và thực hành nghi lễ Sandhyā phụng thờ hằng ngày, tổ tiên được thỏa mãn suốt mười năm—không hề nghi ngờ.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (locative adverb)

• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: by offering funeral rice-balls (piṇḍa)
• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पिण्डस्य प्रदानम्)

• संध्या-उपासन-कर्मणा: by the act of twilight worship
• संध्या-उपासन-कर्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + उपासन (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (संध्यायाः उपासनं कर्म)

• दश-वर्षाणि: for ten years
• दश-वर्षाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश वर्षाणि)

• पितरः: the ancestors
• पितरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तर्पिताः: satisfied/propitiated
• तर्पिताः: कर्तृसम्बन्धि विधेय (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• स्युः: would be / will be
• स्युः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; of implied 'asti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वाक्यांशः: न संशयः (there is no doubt)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on Dharma and Śrāddha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Piṇḍa
• Sandhyā-upāsanā

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic action (nitya-karma) and sacramental offerings as a means to maintain cosmic and familial order; the Atman is approached through disciplined duty rather than abstract metaphysics in this specific verse.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Sandhyā-upāsanā (twilight worship) is highlighted as a daily discipline—combining mantra, purity, and regulated conduct—functioning as a foundational sādhana that supports higher yogic life taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

The verse is primarily śrāddha-focused; within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such dharma-rites are upheld as universally valid regardless of sectarian form, serving the same Supreme order honored in both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frameworks.