Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

नोदकं धारयेद् भैक्षं पुष्पाणि समिधस्तथा / एवंविधानि चान्यानि न दैवाद्येषु कर्मसु

Transliteration

nodakaṃ dhārayed bhaikṣaṃ puṣpāṇi samidhastathā / evaṃvidhāni cānyāni na daivādyeṣu karmasu

Translation

不应为仪式之用而持藏清水、乞食之食、花供或供火之柴枝；凡此类物，亦不当用于以礼敬诸天（daiva-karmas）为始的诸仪轨。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• dhārayet: should hold/carry
• dhārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bhaikṣam: alms (food obtained by begging)
• bhaikṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• samidhaḥ: fuel-sticks (for fire)
• samidhaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samidh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (वैकल्पिक-रूप; प्रायः समिधः/समिधः)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: 'thus/also')

• evam-vidhāni: of such kinds
• evam-vidhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evam + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyāni: other (things)
• anyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• daiva-ādyeṣu: in rites beginning with (those for) the gods
• daiva-ādyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daiva + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; 'दैव-आदि' = दैवप्रभृतिषु

• karmasu: in actions/ritual acts
• karmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator instructing dharma for ritual conduct; framed within the Kurma Purana’s teaching tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Daiva-karman
• Bhiksha
• Samidh

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined restraint in ritual action, a dharmic foundation that supports inner purification—classically considered a prerequisite for steady knowledge of the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights niyama-like restraint and careful regulation of ritual materials; in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching style, such discipline supports later yogic concentration and Pashupata-oriented purification.

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

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu directly; it reflects the shared dharma framework within which both Shaiva and Vaishnava worship operate, consistent with the Kurma Purana’s integrative (synthesizing) tone.