Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 36

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रमसपिण्डेषु स्वगृहे संस्थितेषु च / एकाहं चास्ववर्ये स्यादेकरात्रं तदिष्यते

Transliteration

trirātramasapiṇḍeṣu svagṛhe saṃsthiteṣu ca / ekāhaṃ cāsvavarye syādekarātraṃ tadiṣyate

Translation

لأقارب غير السَّپِنْدَة (sapiṇḍa)، وكذلك إذا وقع الموت بين المقيمين في بيت المرء نفسه، تُقرَّر مدة الأَشَوْچَة (aśauca) ثلاث ليالٍ. أمّا في شأن مَن هو أعلى منزلةً كالكبير أو بمنزلة المعلّم، فمدتها يومٌ واحد؛ ولغيرهم تُعَدُّ ليلةٌ واحدة هي اللائقة.

Word by Word

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights (period)
• त्रिरात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + रात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; duration-accusative (कालावधि)

• असपिण्डेषु: among non-sapiṇḍas (non-close kin)
• असपिण्डेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + सपिण्ड)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• स्वगृहे: in one’s own house
• स्वगृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वगृह (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + गृह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• संस्थितेषु: being present/remaining
• संस्थितेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्था (धातु √स्था) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; locative absolute-participant/qualifier

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

• एकाहम्: one day (period)
• एकाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाह (प्रातिपदिक; एक + अहन्/अह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; duration-accusative (कालावधि)

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

• अस्ववर्ये: in (case of) one not superior/one’s inferior (non-elder)
• अस्ववर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्ववर्य (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + स्व + वर्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकरात्रम्: one night (period)
• एकरात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; एक + रात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; duration-accusative (कालावधि)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as pronominal subject

• इष्यते: is prescribed/considered proper
• इष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relaying the dharma-teaching as given in the Kurma Purana’s śrāddha/aśauca context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Śrāddha
• Piṇḍa
• Sapiṇḍa
• Aśauca

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a dharma-vidhi about aśauca (ritual impurity) durations; indirectly, it supports Atman-oriented discipline by regulating purity and social duties so that one can return to śrāddha, japa, and contemplative practice without disorder.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught here; the emphasis is on preparatory dharma—observing prescribed aśauca periods—so that later Vedic rites, mantra-japa, and (in the Kurma Purana’s broader vision) Pāśupata-style sādhana can be undertaken in a state of ritual and mental order.

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

It does not directly address Śiva–Viṣṇu theology; its contribution is practical dharma. In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such dharma observances form the shared foundation upon which both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva (Pāśupata) discipline are cultivated.