Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

वैवाह्ममग्निमिन्धीत सायं प्रातर्यथाविधि / देशान्तरगतो वाथ मृतपत्नीक एव वा

Transliteration

vaivāhmamagnimindhīta sāyaṃ prātaryathāvidhi / deśāntaragato vātha mṛtapatnīka eva vā

Translation

他应依仪轨于傍晚与清晨点燃家中的圣火（婚火）——即便远行他国，或即便因妻亡而成鳏夫，亦当如是。

Word by Word

• vaivāhya-agniम्: the marriage (sacred) fire
• vaivāhya-agniम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivāhya (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः: वैवाह्यः अग्निः

• indhīta: should kindle
• indhīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √indh (धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sāyam: in the evening
• sāyam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāyam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• prātaḥ: in the morning
• prātaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prātaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• yathā-vidhi: according to rule
• yathā-vidhi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण)

• deśa-antara-gataḥ: gone to another country/place
• deśa-antara-gataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त; √gam + क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः: देशान्तरं गतः (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-अव्यय)

• atha: then; also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘then/also’

• mṛta-patnīkaḥ: whose wife has died
• mṛta-patnīkaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √mṛ + क्त) + patnīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः: मृतपत्नीको (यस्य पत्नी मृता)

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-अव्यय)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the dharma-teaching of the text to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Vaidika-vidhi

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined, rule-based living (niyama) as a support for inner purification, which in the Kurma Purana’s broader theology prepares the mind for realizing the Self beyond ritual.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a meditation technique directly, but a foundational yogic discipline: steadfast daily observance (niyama) and continuity of sacred practice even amid travel or personal loss—supporting steadiness (dhṛti) required for higher yoga.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva–Vishnu unity; it contributes to the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by grounding spiritual life in shared Vaidika dharma, a common platform upon which later Shaiva-Vaishnava yogic theology is taught.