Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 3

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

यत्र स्नानं जपो होमः श्राद्धदानादिकं कृतम् / एकैकशो मुनिश्रेष्ठाः पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम्

Transliteration

yatra snānaṃ japo homaḥ śrāddhadānādikaṃ kṛtam / ekaikaśo muniśreṣṭhāḥ punātyāsaptamaṃ kulam

Translation

诸位最胜牟尼：凡于何处行沐浴净身、持诵（japa）、火供（homa）、以及施行祭祖供养（śrāddha）与布施等法事——即便仅作其中一项——亦能净化家族，及至第七代。

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जपः: recitation
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• होमः: fire-offering
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्राद्धदानादिकम्: śrāddha, gifts, etc.
• श्राद्धदानादिकम्: Karta (कर्ता; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + दान + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (श्राद्धं च दानं च आदयः = śrāddha, gifts, etc.)

• कृतम्: is performed
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘(एतत्) कृतम्’ = is done

• एकैकशः: one by one
• एकैकशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक-एक-शस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (adverbial), क्रियाविशेषण (one by one)

• मुनिश्रेष्ठाः: best sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रेष्ठाः मुनयः)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आ: up to
• आ: Upasarga (उपसर्ग/Preverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (prefix-like particle with verb: up to, as far as)

• सप्तमम्: seventh
• सप्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कुलम् implied as ‘सप्तमं कुलम्’ = seventh generation)

• कुलम्: family/lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-dharma teaching to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)
• Pitṛs (implied through śrāddha)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not describe the Atman directly; it teaches karma-yoga–aligned purification: disciplined sacred acts (snāna, japa, homa, śrāddha, dāna) remove impurity and support inner fitness for higher knowledge of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Japa is the explicit meditative discipline; snāna and homa function as purificatory supports. In Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such dharma-based observances steady the mind and prepare the practitioner for deeper Shaiva-Vaishnava yoga and devotion.

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

This verse is non-sectarian and focuses on dharma in sacred contexts; its emphasis on universally accepted purificatory rites aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis without naming either deity here.