Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 35

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

बीभत्सुमशुचिं नग्नं मत्तं धूर्तं रजस्वलाम् / नीलकाषायवसनं पाषण्डांश्च विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

bībhatsumaśuciṃ nagnaṃ mattaṃ dhūrtaṃ rajasvalām / nīlakāṣāyavasanaṃ pāṣaṇḍāṃśca vivarjayet

Translation

বীভৎস, অপৱিত্ৰ, উলংগ, মদ্যপ, ধূৰ্ত, ৰজস্বলা নাৰী, নীলা বা গেৰুৱা বস্ত্ৰ পৰিধান কৰা আৰু পাষণ্ড বা ধৰ্মবিৰোধীক বৰ্জন কৰিব লাগে।

Word by Word

• बीभत्सुम्: disgusting/loathsome (person)
• बीभत्सुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीभत्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद-विशेषण (object qualifier)

• अशुचिम्: impure (person)
• अशुचिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नग्नम्: naked (person)
• नग्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मत्तम्: intoxicated (person)
• मत्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from मद्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धूर्तम्: a rogue/cheat
• धूर्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रजस्वलाम्: a menstruating woman
• रजस्वलाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नीलकाषायवसनम्: one wearing blue/ochre garments
• नीलकाषायवसनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + काषाय + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वस्त्रविशेषः—‘नील-काषाय-वसन’ (blue/ochre garment)

• पाषण्डान्: heretics/sectarians
• पाषण्डान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-instructions within the Kurma Purana framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Pāṣaṇḍa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes ethical and ritual boundaries (śauca and sadācāra) that prepare the mind for higher knowledge; such discipline is treated in the Purana as a prerequisite for realizing the Atman beyond impurity and agitation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught here; the verse provides yama-like foundations—avoidance of intoxicating, deceitful, and impure influences—supporting steadiness (citta-śuddhi) that later enables mantra, dhyāna, and Pāśupata-oriented discipline in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.

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

It does so implicitly: the text prioritizes dharma (purity, restraint, avoidance of adharmic sectarianism) as a shared foundation upon which both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths converge in the Kurma Purana’s synthesis.