Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

छत्रं चोष्णीषममलं पादुके चाप्युपानहौ / रौक्मे च कुण्डले वेदं कृत्तकेशनखः शुचिः

Transliteration

chatraṃ coṣṇīṣamamalaṃ pāduke cāpyupānahau / raukme ca kuṇḍale vedaṃ kṛttakeśanakhaḥ śuciḥ

Translation

持伞，戴洁净无垢之头巾，着凉鞋与鞋履，佩金耳环；既已习诵吠陀，修剪发与甲，身心清净者，当依正法而行。

Word by Word

• chatram: umbrella
• chatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• uṣṇīṣam: turban/head-cloth
• uṣṇīṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṇīṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• amalam: clean/pure
• amalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with uṣṇīṣam

• pāduke: sandals (pair)
• pāduke: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• upānahau: shoes (pair)
• upānahau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upānah (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual; ‘shoes’

• raukme: golden
• raukme: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raukma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual; agrees with kuṇḍale

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• kuṇḍale: earrings (pair)
• kuṇḍale: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual

• vedam: the Veda
• vedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here likely ‘staff/rod’ sense is unlikely; taken as ‘Veda’ per text

• kṛttakeśanakhaḥ: with hair and nails cut
• kṛttakeśanakhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtta-keśa-nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi ‘whose hair and nails are cut’; kṛtta (ppp of √kṛt ‘to cut’) + keśa + nakha

• śuciḥ: pure/clean
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings as taught by the tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Varnashrama Dharma

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Atman; it emphasizes śauca (purity) and disciplined conduct as preparatory supports that make the mind fit for higher knowledge taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights foundational yama-niyama style disciplines—especially śauca (cleanliness) and regulated conduct—supporting steadiness for japa, study, and contemplation in the broader Kurma Purana path.

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

This specific verse is primarily about dharmic conduct and does not explicitly discuss Shiva–Vishnu unity; it sets ethical-purity prerequisites that the Purana applies across sectarian syntheses in its larger teaching.