Shloka 39

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas: Liquor, Theft, Sexual Transgression, Contact with the Fallen, and Homicide

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं वापि षण्मासानाचरेद् यमी / मुच्यते ह्यवकीर्णो तु ब्राह्मणानुमते स्थितः

Transliteration

brahmahatyāvrataṃ vāpi ṣaṇmāsānācared yamī / mucyate hyavakīrṇo tu brāhmaṇānumate sthitaḥ

Translation

أو ليمارس الرجلُ المتحكِّمُ بنفسه نذرَ الكفّارة المقرَّر لذنب قتلِ البراهمة مدةَ ستةِ أشهرٍ فيتحرّر؛ حقًّا إنّ حتى الملوَّثَ بسقطةٍ عظيمة (أفاكيرṇa) يُطلَق إذا أقام وفقَ موافقةِ البراهمة.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या-व्रतम्: the vow for expiation of brahma-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्या-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ब्रह्महत्यायाः व्रतम्)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• षण्मासान्: (for) six months
• षण्मासान्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (षण् + मास)

• आचरेत्: should practice/perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यमी: the self-restrained person
• यमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (one who is self-restrained)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/हेतौ-निपात (indeed/for)

• अवकीर्णः: the avakīrṇa offender
• अवकीर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य (the offender termed avakīrṇa)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (but/indeed)

• ब्राह्मण-अनुमते: in/under the permission of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मण-अनुमते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण + अनुमत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ब्राह्मणानाम् अनुमते)

• स्थितः: remaining/abiding
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अवकीर्णस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the dharma-teaching as received from the sages of the Kūrma Purāṇa tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Brahmahatyā (sin of brahmin-slaying)
• Avakīrṇa (grave impurity)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-oriented (prāyaścitta) rather than metaphysical; it implies that inner discipline (yamā/saṃyama) and right conduct restore purity, which is a prerequisite for steady realization of the Self in the broader Purāṇic path.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights yama/saṃyama—self-restraint and disciplined living—as the practical ‘yogic’ foundation supporting expiation: sustained vow-observance for six months, guided by orthodox authority (brāhmaṇa-anumati).

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

Indirectly: the Kurma Purana’s synthesis treats ethical purification and vow-based discipline as universally valid across Shaiva-Vaishnava frameworks; such prāyaścitta supports devotion and practice whether oriented to Śiva (Pāśupata) or Viṣṇu (Kūrma/Nārāyaṇa).