Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

संमार्ज्य मन्त्रैरात्मानं कुशैः सोदकबिन्दुभिः / आपो हिष्ठा व्याहृतिभिः सावित्र्या वारुणैः शुभैः

Transliteration

saṃmārjya mantrairātmānaṃ kuśaiḥ sodakabindubhiḥ / āpo hiṣṭhā vyāhṛtibhiḥ sāvitryā vāruṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Translation

当以真言自净，取洒有水滴的库沙草（kuśa）拂拭其身。继而以《Āpo hi ṣṭhā》之颂、以诸圣音（vyāhṛti）、以萨维特丽（Sāvitrī／伽耶特丽）及吉祥的伐楼那（Varuṇa）真言而行净化。

Word by Word

• saṃmārjya: having wiped/cleansed
• saṃmārjya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+mṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्

• ātmānam: oneself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• kuśaiḥ: with kuśa grass
• kuśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्

• sa-udaka-bindubhiḥ: with drops of water
• sa-udaka-bindubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa+udaka+bindu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘उदकबिन्दुभिः सह’ (with water-drops)

• āpaḥ: waters
• āpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आपः), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्

• hiṣṭhāḥ: most beneficial/refreshing
• hiṣṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Vedic epithet)

• vyāhṛtibhiḥ: with the vyāhṛtis (bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ)
• vyāhṛtibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्

• sāvitryā: with the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• sāvitryā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्

• vāruṇaiḥ: with Varuṇa-related (mantras)
• vāruṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Varuṇa-related)

• śubhaiḥ: auspicious
• śubhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narratorial instruction within the ritual-teaching discourse of the Kurma Purana (traditionally transmitted by Vyasa/Suta framework; the teaching is aligned with Lord Kurma’s dharma-vidhi)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa (darbha grass)
• Āpo hi ṣṭhā (Vedic water hymn)
• Vyāhṛtis (bhūḥ-bhuvaḥ-svaḥ)
• Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī
• Varuṇa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It treats the embodied “self” (ātmānam) as fit for higher realization only after śauca—purification of body-mind through mantra and sacred water—showing that inner clarity is a prerequisite for approaching the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory sādhana: mantra-japa (Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī), ritually consecrated sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) with kuśa and water, and alignment with ṛta through Varuṇa-mantras—disciplines that stabilize the practitioner before deeper Pāśupata-oriented worship and contemplation.

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

By grounding practice in shared Vedic mantras and purification rites, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach: devotion and discipline are presented as common dharmic foundations supporting both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva modes of realization.