Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23
Bhojana-vidhi and Nitya-karman: Directions for Eating, Prāṇa-Oblations, Sandhyā, and Conduct Leading to Apavarga
नैकवस्त्रस्तु भुञ्जीत न यानशयनस्थितः / न पादुकानिर्गतो ऽथ न हसन् विलपन्नपि
naikavastrastu bhuñjīta na yānaśayanasthitaḥ / na pādukānirgato 'tha na hasan vilapannapi
لا ينبغي أن يأكل المرء وهو لا يلبس إلا ثوبًا واحدًا؛ ولا وهو جالس على مركبة، ولا وهو مضطجع على فراش. ولا يأكل بعد خروجه منتعلًا؛ ولا يأكل وهو يضحك، ولا وهو يبكي.
Traditional narration attributed to the Purāṇic teacher (Sūta/Vyāsa tradition) conveying dharma-vidhi; framed within Kurma Purana’s instructional discourse
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
Indirectly, by prescribing steadiness and purity during eating, it supports the sāttvika discipline needed for inner clarity, which is a prerequisite for recognizing the Atman through yoga and self-inquiry.
It emphasizes pratyāhāra-like restraint and mindful regulation of āhāra (food intake): eating in a composed posture, with modesty and emotional balance, so the mind remains fit for japa, dhyāna, and Pāśupata-oriented self-control.
Though no deity is named, the verse reflects the shared Purāṇic ethic upheld across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams: disciplined conduct (ācāra) as the foundation for devotion and yoga—supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis of dharma with liberation-oriented practice.