Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 7

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

Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन् उपवासपरायणः / काञ्चनेन विमानेन ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

Transliteration

tatra snātvā naro rājan upavāsaparāyaṇaḥ / kāñcanena vimānena brahmaloke mahīyate

Translation

Tâu Đại vương, người nào tắm tại nơi ấy và chuyên tâm trì trai (upavāsa) sẽ được tôn vinh nơi Phạm Thiên giới (Brahmaloka), cưỡi thiên xa bằng vàng mà thăng lên.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bathed)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• उपवास-परायणः: devoted to fasting
• उपवास-परायणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उपवासे परायणः = devoted to fasting)

• काञ्चनेन: by/with a golden
• काञ्चनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विमानेन: a celestial chariot
• विमानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मलोके: in Brahma-loka
• ब्रह्मलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः लोकः)

• महीयते: is honored
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदी प्रयोग (is honored/glorified)

Speaker

Likely a sage/narrator addressing the king (rājan) within a tīrtha-māhātmya discourse of the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it teaches karma-phala within dharma—purificatory acts like tīrtha-snānā and upavāsa refine the practitioner and lead to higher lokas, preparing one for deeper knowledge that reveals the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is upavāsa (austerity/discipline) combined with tīrtha-snānā (ritual purification). In the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual frame, such niyamas support steadiness of mind and sensory restraint, which are foundational for later yogic contemplation.

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

The verse is primarily a tīrtha-and-vrata merit statement and does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; implicitly, it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where disciplined observance (vrata, tapas) is upheld as a shared dharmic path honored across Shaiva-Vaishnava traditions.