Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

Śrāddha-Kāla-Nirṇaya: Proper Times, Nakṣatra Fruits, Tīrtha Merit, and Offerings for Ancestral Rites

Devanagari script

एतत् पञ्चविधं श्राद्धं मनुना परिकीर्तितम् / यात्रायां षष्ठमाख्यातं तत्प्रयत्नेन पालयेत्

Transliteration

etat pañcavidhaṃ śrāddhaṃ manunā parikīrtitam / yātrāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhamākhyātaṃ tatprayatnena pālayet

Translation

如是五种施罗陀，乃摩奴所宣说；又复教示第六种，为行旅途中所行。应以勤勉之力守持此法。

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (श्राद्धम्)

• पञ्च-विधम्: fivefold
• पञ्च-विधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च विधाः यस्य तत्)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha
• श्राद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनुना: by Manu
• मनुना: Karana (करण/instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्तृकरणे (agent in passive)

• परिकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: परि+कीर्त्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय—‘has been proclaimed’

• यात्रायाम्: on a journey
• यात्रायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• षष्ठम्: the sixth
• षष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (क्रमवाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (श्राद्धम्) विशेषणम्

• आख्यातम्: is stated
• आख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: आख्या-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय—‘is stated’

• तत्-प्रयत्नेन: with that effort/diligently
• तत्-प्रयत्नेन: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial instrumental): ‘with that effort’

• पालयेत्: should observe/maintain
• पालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing Dharma-śāstric śrāddha categories, attributed to Manu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Śrāddha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it emphasizes dharma in the form of śrāddha observance, implying that spiritual life in the Kurma Purana is supported by disciplined duty (karma) alongside higher knowledge taught elsewhere.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse; the ‘practice’ highlighted is careful adherence to yātrā-dharma—maintaining prescribed rites even while traveling—reflecting the Purāṇic ideal that outer discipline can support inner steadiness.

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

It does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis by grounding devotion and liberation-oriented teachings in a shared dharma framework (ritual responsibility and ethical observance).