Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

कार्पासमुपवीतार्थं निर्मितं ब्रह्मणा पुरा / ब्राह्मणानां त्रिवित् सूत्रं कौशं वा वस्त्रमेव वा

Transliteration

kārpāsamupavītārthaṃ nirmitaṃ brahmaṇā purā / brāhmaṇānāṃ trivit sūtraṃ kauśaṃ vā vastrameva vā

Translation

古时梵天为作优婆毗多（圣线）而造棉。对婆罗门而言，圣绳当为三股；可用库沙草纤维制成，或甚至仅以布帛为之。

Word by Word

• kārpāsam: cotton (material)
• kārpāsam: Karma (कर्म/Object—material)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārpāsa (कार्पास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; here with nirmitam: Prathamā (predicate nominative)

• upavīta-artham: for the purpose of the sacred thread
• upavīta-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upavīta (उपवीत-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (अर्थ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsānta-avyaya used adverbially; Dvitīyā-ekavacana in -am functioning as purpose (प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया): 'for the purpose of upavīta'

• nirmitam: was made/constructed
• nirmitam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√mā (निर्मा/मा-धातु) kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate: 'was made'

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent—in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental of agent (कर्तृकरणे तृतीया)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (पुरा-अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल/temporal adverb)

• brāhmaṇānām: of Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (ब्राह्मण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• trivit: threefold
• trivit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (त्रि-प्रातिपदिक) + vit (वित्/वित्-प्रातिपदिक, 'threefold')
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; numeral compound qualifying sūtram: 'threefold'

• sūtram: thread
• sūtram: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (सूत्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kauśam: made of kuśa-fibre
• kauśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kauśa (कौश-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying sūtram/vastram: 'made of kuśa-fibre'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा-अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (alternative particle)

• vastram: cloth
• vastram: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—alternative item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (वस्त्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Connector/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (एव-अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (अवधारण/emphasis particle)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा-अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (alternative particle)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Upavita
• Brahmana
• Kusha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames dharma through sacred observance (upavīta), implying that inner discipline and purity support the realization of the Self, even when the verse itself focuses on the external emblem.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught here; the verse emphasizes preparatory dharma—proper upavīta as part of brahminical discipline—which the Kurma Purana treats as supportive groundwork for higher practices such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation.

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

It does so implicitly through shared dharma: the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis presents ritual order (like upavīta rules) as common ground for devotion to the one Supreme, whether approached as Śiva or as Viṣṇu (here speaking as Kūrma).