Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

नास्य निर्माल्यशयनं पादुकोपानहावपि / आक्रमेदासनं चास्य छायादीन् वा कदाचन

Transliteration

nāsya nirmālyaśayanaṃ pādukopānahāvapi / ākramedāsanaṃ cāsya chāyādīn vā kadācana

Translation

切莫踏上受敬师长之床榻，即便其上有弃置花鬘；亦莫踏其木屐鞋履；亦莫踏其座位；更不可逾越触犯其影子等诸相。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• nirmālya-śayanam: (his) bed/seat with used garlands/remnants
• nirmālya-śayanam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirmālya (प्रातिपदिक) + śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (निर्माल्ये शयनम् / निर्माल्य-युक्तं शयनम्)

• pādukā-upānahau: sandals and shoes
• pādukā-upānahau: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक) + upānah (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (पादुका) + स्त्रीलिङ्ग (उपानह्), द्वितीया, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (pair: sandals and shoes)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक-अव्यय (even/also)

• ākramet: should step on
• ākramet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kram (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• āsanam: seat
• āsanam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• chāyā-ādīn: his shadow and the like
• chāyā-ādīn: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (छाया-आदि = shadow etc.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• kadācana: ever, at any time
• kadācana: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at any time/ever)

Speaker

Narratorial dharma-instruction (general injunction within the Kurma Purana’s conduct teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches humility and restraint—ethical purification that supports knowledge of the Self; reverence toward the guru is treated as a practical aid for Atma-vidyā.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes yama-like discipline (respect, non-transgression, careful conduct). Such ethical training is presented as a foundation for higher practices, including Shaiva–Vaishnava devotional contemplation and Pashupata-oriented discipline found elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

It does not explicitly discuss Shiva–Vishnu unity; instead it provides shared dharmic etiquette that underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths—reverence for the guru and sacred presence.