Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

अलाबुं दारुपात्रं च मृण्मयं वैणवं ततः / चत्वारि यतिपात्राणि मनुराह प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

alābuṃ dārupātraṃ ca mṛṇmayaṃ vaiṇavaṃ tataḥ / catvāri yatipātrāṇi manurāha prajāpatiḥ

Translation

葫芦钵、木钵、陶钵，继而竹钵——这四种乃出家苦行者（yati）的乞食钵；如众生之主普罗阇波提之摩奴所宣说。

Word by Word

• alābum: a gourd-vessel (gourd)
• alābum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाबु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• dāru-pātram: a wooden vessel
• dāru-pātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दारोः पात्रम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• mṛṇmayam: earthen, made of clay
• mṛṇmayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृण्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (earthen)

• vaiṇavam: made of bamboo
• vaiṇavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) → वैणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (made of bamboo/reed)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमबोधक (thereafter/from that)

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with पात्राणि)

• yati-pātrāṇi: ascetic’s vessels
• yati-pātrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यतेः पात्राणि

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• prajāpatiḥ: the Lord of creatures (Prajāpati)
• prajāpatiḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्रजानां पतिः

Speaker

Narrator/Teacher citing Manu (Prajapati) as scriptural authority

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Prajapati

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing minimal requisites for a yati, it supports the renunciant ideal that realization of the Self is aided by simplicity, non-attachment, and restraint rather than by accumulation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named; the verse highlights the preparatory discipline (yama-like restraint) for Yoga—living with minimal possessions and accepting alms with detachment, which stabilizes the mind for meditation.

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

It does not explicitly discuss Shiva–Vishnu unity; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis by grounding spiritual life in shared dharma norms (Manu’s yati-dharma) that support both Shaiva and Vaishnava renunciant paths.