Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 43

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणः प्रणवं कुर्यादन्ते च विधिवद् द्विजः / कुर्यादध्ययनं नित्यं स ब्रह्माञ्जलिपूर्वतः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaḥ praṇavaṃ kuryādante ca vidhivad dvijaḥ / kuryādadhyayanaṃ nityaṃ sa brahmāñjalipūrvataḥ

Translation

婆罗门——实则一切二生者——当于诵读终了时如法唱出圣音 Pranava“唵”（Oṁ）。他应日日修习吠陀，以合掌恭敬为始，怀着礼敬梵（Brahman）之心而学。

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• praṇavam: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kuryāt: should do/utter
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; ‘at the end’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vidhivat: according to rule
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-vat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): विधिना युक्तम् (according to rule)

• dvijaḥ: the twice-born
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• adhyayanam: study/recitation
• adhyayanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyayana (प्रातिपदिक; √adhī (धातु) nominal)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): सर्वदा (always)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brahma-añjali-pūrvataḥ: with folded hands first (with Oṃ/Brahman)
• brahma-añjali-pūrvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: brahman + añjali + pūrvataḥ (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; pūrvataḥ (अव्यय: ‘in front/preceded by’)—‘with Brahman (Oṃ) preceded by añjali (folded hands)’; whole used adverbially

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and disciplined practice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)
• Brāhmaṇa
• Dvija
• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By placing Oṃ and reverent study at the center, the verse points to Brahman as the ultimate ground of sacred knowledge—approached through disciplined recitation and inward worship, aligning the seeker’s mind with the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice is a dharma-based yogic discipline: daily adhyayana (scriptural recitation) framed by Praṇava (Oṃ) and performed with añjali (reverent composure). This steadies attention (ekāgratā) and purifies conduct—supportive of later contemplative paths such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditation.

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

Though not naming Śiva explicitly, it emphasizes Brahman and the Praṇava as universal—common to Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava worship—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where devotion and discipline converge on the one Supreme.