Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

न च स्नानं विना पुंसां पावनं कर्म सुस्मृतम् / होमे जप्ये विशेषेण तस्मात् स्नानं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

na ca snānaṃ vinā puṃsāṃ pāvanaṃ karma susmṛtam / home japye viśeṣeṇa tasmāt snānaṃ samācaret

Translation

对世人而言，离开沐浴，任何净化之行都不被记为真正清净。尤其在火供（护摩）与诵持真言之时，因此应如法行浴。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय; वियोगार्थ (postposition: without)

• पुंसाम्: of men/people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचन (Gen pl)

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (of कर्म)

• कर्म: act/rite
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• सुस्मृतम्: well-remembered/authoritatively taught
• सुस्मृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-smṛta (कृदन्त; √smṛ ‘to remember’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—कर्मधारय (सु स्मृतम् = well-attested/commended)

• होमे: in (the act of) homa/fire-offering
• होमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• जप्ये: in japa/recitation
• जप्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japya (कृदन्त; √jap ‘to mutter’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (fit to be recited; japa)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially: especially)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत् (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• समाचरेत्: should duly perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing Indradyumna (dharma-upadeśa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Smriti
• Homa
• Japa
• Snana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that inner practice (like japa) is supported by outer discipline (śauca). Purity of conduct prepares the mind for steadiness in contemplation, which is the gateway to realizing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Japa is explicitly highlighted, and the verse frames snāna (ritual cleansing) as a prerequisite discipline that steadies and purifies the practitioner before mantra-recitation and worship—foundational to the Kurma Purana’s dharma-to-yoga progression.

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

By emphasizing shared dharmic prerequisites (purity before mantra and sacrifice) that apply across Shaiva and Vaishnava worship, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: one discipline of purity supports devotion to the one Supreme approached through different forms.