Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

पिण्डदानादिकं तत्र प्रेत्यानन्तफलप्रदम् / मृतस्तत्रापि नियमाद् ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

Transliteration

piṇḍadānādikaṃ tatra pretyānantaphalapradam / mṛtastatrāpi niyamād brahmaloke mahīyate

Translation

在那里，供奉 piṇḍa（祭亡者的米团）等善行，能在身后获得无尽的果报。即便有人在彼处辞世，凭借那神圣的戒律，也将在梵天（Brahmā）之界受尊崇。

Word by Word

• piṇḍa-dāna-ādikam: piṇḍa-offering and related rites
• piṇḍa-dāna-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa + dāna + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (determinative), अर्थः ‘पिण्डदानं च तदादि च’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• pretya: after death
• pretya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra + i (√इ, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘प्रेत्य’ = ‘मृत्युम् अतिक्रम्य/मरणानन्तरम्’ (after dying)

• ananta-phala-pradam: granting endless fruit (results)
• ananta-phala-pradam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta + phala + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘अनन्तं फलं’ + ‘प्रदम्’)

• mṛtaḥ: a dead person (one who has died)
• mṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √मृ, धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘मृत’ = dead person

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• niyamāt: by rule/through prescribed observance
• niyamāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Abl.), एकवचन (singular); हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause: ‘due to/according to rule’)

• brahma-loke: in Brahma’s world
• brahma-loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘ब्रह्मणः लोकः’)

• mahīyate: is honored/exalted
• mahīyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mah (√मह्, धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is honored/glorified’

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the tīrtha-māhātmya taught in the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Brahmā
• Piṇḍa-dāna
• Śrāddha
• Tīrtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic causality (karma-phala) and post-mortem ascent; liberation (ātma-jñāna) is not stated here, but the verse frames ritual merit as a supportive ladder within the Purāṇic dharma system.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is taught in this verse; the focus is niyama (religious discipline/observance) expressed as pitṛ-kriyā—piṇḍa-dāna and allied śrāddha rites—presented as a dharma-practice with enduring results.

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

It does not directly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, the verse situates ritual duty within a unified sacred order (niyama) where tīrtha, devotion, and dharma cooperate toward higher worlds.