Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 103

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

षष्ठ्यामुपोषितो देवं शुक्लपक्षे समाहितः / सप्तम्यामर्चयेद् भानुं मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhyāmupoṣito devaṃ śuklapakṣe samāhitaḥ / saptamyāmarcayed bhānuṃ mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

مَنْ صَامَ فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّادِسِ مِنَ النِّصْفِ الْمُنِيرِ (شُكْلَ بَكْشَا) وَهُوَ مُجْتَمِعُ الْقَلْبِ، فَلْيَعْبُدْ فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّابِعِ بْهَانُو، إِلَهَ الشَّمْسِ؛ فَبِذَلِكَ يَتَحَرَّرُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الذُّنُوبِ.

Word by Word

• ṣaṣṭhyām: on the sixth (tithi)
• ṣaṣṭhyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (तिथिवाचक)

• upoṣitaḥ: having fasted
• upoṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√vas (वस्/उपवस्, धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘उपवासं कृतवान्’

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śukla-pakṣe: in the bright fortnight
• śukla-pakṣe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुक्लः पक्षः)

• samāhitaḥ: composed/collected (in mind)
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धा, धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘समाहितचित्तः’

• saptamyām: on the seventh (tithi)
• saptamyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (तिथिवाचक)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (अर्च्, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bhānum: the Sun (Bhānu)
• bhānum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (मुच्, धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

• sarva-pātakaiḥ: from all sins
• sarva-pātakaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse tradition; instructional dharma-teaching within the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhanu
• Surya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to inner purification: fasting and worship done with a “samāhita” (collected) mind reduce pāpa and clarify the intellect, which is a prerequisite for realizing the Self beyond impurity and distraction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic element is samāhita-citta—steady, focused awareness. The vrata (fast on Ṣaṣṭhī) supports sense-restraint, and the arcana (worship on Saptamī) channels devotion into disciplined concentration, aligning ritual with meditative training.

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

Though it names Sūrya (Bhānu), the Kurma Purana’s synthesis treats such devatā-upāsanā as compatible with the one Supreme reality revered through multiple forms—supporting a non-sectarian framework where devotional disciplines can lead toward the same highest aim.