Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

संवत्सरं चरेत् कृच्छ्रमग्न्युत्सादी द्विजोत्तमः / चान्द्रायणं चरेद् व्रात्यो गोप्रदानेन शुद्ध्यति

Transliteration

saṃvatsaraṃ caret kṛcchramagnyutsādī dvijottamaḥ / cāndrāyaṇaṃ cared vrātyo gopradānena śuddhyati

Translation

البرهميّ المولودُ مرتين ذو المنزلة الرفيعة، إذا أهمل نيرانه المقدّسة (agni)، فعليه أن يمارس كفّارة كْرِتشْرا (Kṛcchra) مدةَ سنة. ومن صار فْراتْيَا (vrātya) فليؤدِّ نذر تشاندرايانا (Cāndrāyaṇa)؛ ويتطهّر بهبةِ بقرة.

Word by Word

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular)

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should practice/perform)

• कृच्छ्रम्: the Kṛcchra penance
• कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• अग्न्युत्सादी: one who has extinguished the sacred fire
• अग्न्युत्सादी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि-उत्सादिन् (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि + उत्सादिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine, nominative singular; adjective)

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• चान्द्रायणम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• चान्द्रायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रात्यः: a Vrātya (outcaste/one fallen from rites)
• व्रात्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• गोप्रदानेन: by the gift of a cow
• गोप्रदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक; गो + प्रदान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, instrumental singular)

• शुद्ध्यति: is purified
• शुद्ध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (becomes purified)

Speaker

Sūta (traditional narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Agni (sacred fires)
• Kṛcchra (penance)
• Cāndrāyaṇa (lunar vow)
• Vrātya (lapsed initiate)
• Go-dāna (cow-gift)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it teaches dharma through prāyaścitta—restoring ritual order and inner discipline, which the Purāṇa treats as supportive conditions for spiritual clarity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not meditation as such, but tapas-based discipline: Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa are vow-structured austerities that cultivate self-restraint (saṃyama) and purification, aligning conduct with Vedic dharma.

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

It does not explicitly discuss Shiva–Vishnu unity; instead it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader integrative approach where devotion and liberation are grounded in correct dharma, ritual responsibility, and purificatory practice.