Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 78
Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence
देहाभावात् पलाशैस्तु कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं पुनः / दाहः कार्यो यथान्यायं सपिण्डैः श्रद्धयान्वितैः
dehābhāvāt palāśaistu kṛtvā pratikṛtiṃ punaḥ / dāhaḥ kāryo yathānyāyaṃ sapiṇḍaiḥ śraddhayānvitaiḥ
إذا لم يتوافر الجسدُ المادي، فلتُصنع دميةٌ بديلة من خشبِ البلاشا (palāśa)؛ ثم تُقام مراسمُ الإحراق من جديد على الوجه المشروع، على يد أقارب السابِنْدا (sapiṇḍa) المفعمين بالإيمان.
Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions to the sages
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It implies the Self is not identical with the perishable body: even when the body is absent, dharmic rites proceed through a symbolic form, indicating that the person’s spiritual continuity is not reducible to physical remains.
No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse; it emphasizes śraddhā (reverent, focused intent) and disciplined adherence to dharma—an inner steadiness that the Kurma Purana elsewhere aligns with sāttvika conduct supporting higher sādhanā.
Indirectly: it reflects the Purana’s integrative stance where correct dharma and śraddhā are upheld as universally binding, regardless of sectarian orientation—supporting the text’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis in practice.