Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

ततो मध्याह्नसमये स्नानार्थं मृदमाहरेत् / पुष्पाक्षतान् कुशतिलान् गोमयं शुद्धमेव च

Transliteration

tato madhyāhnasamaye snānārthaṃ mṛdamāharet / puṣpākṣatān kuśatilān gomayaṃ śuddhameva ca

Translation

随后于正午时分，为行沐浴净礼，应取净土（净化之泥），并备花、阿克沙塔（不碎之米）、库沙草与芝麻，亦取纯净牛粪。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• madhyāhna-samaye: at midday time
• madhyāhna-samaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyāhna (प्रातिपदिक) + samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/संबन्ध: मध्यान्हस्य समये)

• snāna-artham: for bathing
• snāna-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष: स्नानाय अर्थः)

• mṛdam: clay/earth
• mṛdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āharet: should bring
• āharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṣpa-akṣatān: flowers and unbroken rice grains
• puṣpa-akṣatān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समास (पुष्पाणि च अक्षताः च)

• kuśa-tilān: kuśa grass and sesame seeds
• kuśa-tilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समास (कुशाः च तिलाः च)

• gomayam: cow-dung
• gomayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śuddham: pure
• śuddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying gomayam

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) of emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (instructional dharma-vidhi section, presented as authoritative injunction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• kuśa
• tila
• akṣata
• gomaya
• mṛd

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames bodily and ritual purification (śauca) as a preparatory discipline—supporting inner clarity that traditional Yoga and Purāṇic teaching regard as conducive to realizing the Self beyond impurity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights the foundational niyama of śauca (purity) through snāna (midday bath) and sanctifying materials; such outer discipline is treated as a support for mantra, pūjā, and contemplative practice in the Kurma Purana’s broader Yoga-oriented dharma.

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

Though not naming them, it reflects the shared Purāṇic dharma framework used across Shaiva and Vaishnava observance—common purity rites that underpin worship and Yoga in the Kurma Purana’s synthesis-oriented tradition.