Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama

Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit

Devanagari script

उपवासपरो भूत्वा नित्यं व्रतपरायणः / तत्र स्नात्वा तु राजेन्द्र मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

Transliteration

upavāsaparo bhūtvā nityaṃ vrataparāyaṇaḥ / tatra snātvā tu rājendra mucyate brahmahatyayā

Translation

Chuyên tâm trì trai và luôn kiên định trong giới nguyện, tâu bậc vương thượng—chỉ cần tắm tại đó liền được giải thoát khỏi tội brahma-hatyā (sát hại Bà-la-môn).

Word by Word

• upavāsa-paraḥ: devoted to fasting
• upavāsa-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘devoted to fasting’

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having become’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb)

• vrata-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to vows
• vrata-parāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘intent on vows’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bathed’

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• rājendra: O best of kings
• rājendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘Indra among kings’

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• brahma-hatyayā: from/with the sin of brahmin-slaying
• brahma-hatyayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण-हेतु), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘killing of a brāhmaṇa’; here instrumental of cause/association

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the tīrtha-vrata teaching within the Kurma Purana’s discourse to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it stresses inner purification through disciplined vrata and upavāsa; such purification is treated as supportive to Self-knowledge by reducing pāpa and mental agitation that obstruct realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A dharma-yoga emphasis: tapas through fasting (upavāsa), niyama-like vow observance (vrata), and tīrtha-snāna as a purificatory aid—preparatory disciplines that steady the mind for higher sādhana.

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

It does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, it frames purification through vrata and tīrtha as universally valid dharma, compatible with both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava modes of worship.