Shloka 22

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

सरस्वत्यास्त्वरुणया संगमे लोकविश्रुते / शुध्येत् त्रिषवणस्नानात् त्रिरात्रोपोषितो द्विजः

Transliteration

sarasvatyāstvaruṇayā saṃgame lokaviśrute / śudhyet triṣavaṇasnānāt trirātropoṣito dvijaḥ

Translation

লোকপ্রসিদ্ধ সরস্বতী-অরুণার সঙ্গমে, তিন রাত্রি উপবাস করে, ত্রিসবণ স্নান করলে দ্বিজ শুদ্ধ হয়।

Word by Word

• सरस्वत्याः: of Sarasvatī (river)
• सरस्वत्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक

• अरुणया: with (the river) Aruṇā
• अरुणया: Saha/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• संगमे: at the confluence
• संगमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• लोक-विश्रुते: well-known in the world
• लोक-विश्रुते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (लोके विश्रुतः)

• शुध्येत्: should become purified
• शुध्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘should be purified’

• त्रि-सवण-स्नानात्: from bathing at the three daily rites
• त्रि-सवण-स्नानात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + सवण + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (त्रिषु सवनेषु स्नानम्)

• त्रि-रात्र-उपोषितः: having fasted for three nights
• त्रि-रात्र-उपोषितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + रात्र + उपोषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (त्रिरात्रम् उपोषितः)

• द्विजः: the twice-born man
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on tīrtha-dharma and purification rites

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• Aruṇā
• Dvija
• Triṣavaṇa-snāna
• Upavāsa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents śauca (purity) through tīrtha and vrata as a preparatory discipline that steadies the mind and senses—supporting later realization teachings, even though this verse itself focuses on external purification.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory niyamas: fasting (trirātra upavāsa) and regulated bathing at the three savanas (triṣavaṇa-snāna). In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such śauca supports eligibility for mantra-japa, dhyāna, and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

By emphasizing tīrtha-vrata discipline taught within a Vaiṣṇava frame (Lord Kūrma) yet consistent with Śaiva/Pāśupata norms of purification, it reflects the Purāṇa’s shared dharma-platform where both traditions value śauca as a gateway to higher practice.