Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Prayāga-māhātmya — The Greatness of Prayāga and the Discipline of Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

सिंहासनमुपस्थाप्य पादशौचार्चनादिभिः / युधिष्ठिरो महात्मेति पूजयामास तं मुनिम्

Transliteration

siṃhāsanamupasthāpya pādaśaucārcanādibhiḥ / yudhiṣṭhiro mahātmeti pūjayāmāsa taṃ munim

Translation

设下王座，又以洗足、礼拜圣足等诸般敬仪为先，坚战（Yudhiṣṭhira）称其为大心者，恭敬供养那位牟尼。

Word by Word

• सिंहासनम्: a lion-throne/royal seat
• सिंहासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंहासन (प्रातिपदिक: सिंह + आसन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपस्थाप्य: having set/placed (near)
• उपस्थाप्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाले (prior action)

• पादशौच: foot-washing
• पादशौच: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादशौच (प्रातिपदिक: पाद + शौच)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural) — समाहार/समुच्चयार्थे ‘-आदिभिः’ सह

• अर्चन: worship/adoration
• अर्चन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; from अर्च् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural) — ‘-आदिभिः’ सह

• आदिभिः: and other (services)
• आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural) — ‘etc., and the like’ (instrumental of accompaniment)

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महात्मा: great-souled (one)
• महात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) — इति-शब्देन विशेषणवत् (as an epithet)

• इति: thus/so (saying)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-प्रयोग (quotative particle)

• पूजयामास: worshipped/honoured
• पूजयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Yudhiṣṭhira’s conduct toward a visiting sage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Muni (sage)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to the Purāṇic ethic that the realized sage embodies dharma and inner purity; honouring such a mahātmā is treated as honouring the spiritual principle (ātma-jñāna) that shines through him.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights preparatory disciplines supportive of yoga—humility (vinaya), service (sevā), purity (śauca), and reverence to the spiritually advanced—qualities repeatedly presented in the Kurma Purana as foundations for higher Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

While neither Śiva nor Viṣṇu is named here, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion and honour toward true spiritual authority is a shared dharmic gateway that supports both Śaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava paths.