Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

अथर्वाङ्गिरसो नित्यं मध्वा प्रीणाति देवताः / धर्माङ्गानि पुराणानि मांसैस्तर्पयते सुरान्

Transliteration

atharvāṅgiraso nityaṃ madhvā prīṇāti devatāḥ / dharmāṅgāni purāṇāni māṃsaistarpayate surān

Translation

恒常奉行阿闼婆—安吉罗萨之传者，以蜜供养而悦诸天；诸《往世书》乃法之支分，以肉供而使天众得饱足。

Word by Word

• अथर्वाङ्गिरसः: Atharvan and Aṅgiras (Atharva texts)
• अथर्वाङ्गिरसः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वन् + अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (अथर्वणः च अङ्गिरसः च) = अथर्ववेद-सम्बद्धाः मन्त्राः

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• मध्वा: with honey
• मध्वा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; वैदिक/छान्दस-रूप ‘मध्वा’ = मधुना

• प्रीणाति: pleases
• प्रीणाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• धर्माङ्गानि: the limbs of dharma
• धर्माङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य अङ्गानि: limbs/parts of dharma)

• पुराणानि: the Purāṇas
• पुराणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘पुराण’ = ancient lore/texts

• मांसैः: with meats
• मांसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तर्पयते: satisfies
• तर्पयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘to satisfy’)

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on Dharma and ritual gradations

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Atharvāṅgirasa (Atharvaveda)
• Devatāḥ (Devas)
• Dharma
• Purāṇas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead, it frames Dharma as upheld through prescribed means of worship—implying that spiritual order is supported by disciplined observance, which later culminates in inner realization in the Purāṇic-Yogic worldview.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation is taught in this verse; it emphasizes karma-kāṇḍa style propitiation (tarpana/prīṇana) as a dhārmic support-system, which the Kurma Purāṇa integrates with later Yogic instruction (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline) as complementary paths.

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

By treating Purāṇas and Vedic traditions as shared “limbs of Dharma,” it reflects the Kurma Purāṇa’s integrative stance where sectarian streams (Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava) are coordinated within a single dhārmic framework rather than opposed.