Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

ब्रहामचारी स्त्रियं गच्छेत् कथञ्चित्काममोहितः / सप्तगारं चरेद् भैक्षं वसित्वा गर्दभाजिनम्

Transliteration

brahāmacārī striyaṃ gacchet kathañcitkāmamohitaḥ / saptagāraṃ cared bhaikṣaṃ vasitvā gardabhājinam

Translation

Wenn ein Brahmacārin, von Begierde verblendet, sich irgendwie zu einer Frau begibt, so soll er, in eine Eselshaut gekleidet, von Almosen leben und zur Sühne an sieben Häusern betteln.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गच्छेत्: should go to
• गच्छेत्: क्रिया (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कथञ्चित्: somehow
• कथञ्चित्: सम्बन्ध (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/अनिश्चिततावाचक (adverb: somehow/by some means)

• काम-मोहितः: deluded by desire
• काम-मोहितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहित (कृदन्त, मुह्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (कामेन मोहितः)

• सप्त-गारम्: (for) seven houses
• सप्त-गारम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त गाराणि)

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

• भैक्षम्: begging (alms-round)
• भैक्षम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (भिक्षाटन-रूपं/भिक्षा)

• वसित्वा: having lived
• वसित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• गर्दभ-आजिनम्: a donkey-skin (garment)
• गर्दभ-आजिनम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गर्दभस्य अजिनम्)

Speaker

Narrator (Vyāsa/Sūta tradition) presenting dharma-śāstra style injunctions within the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacārin
• Strī
• Kāma
• Bhaikṣa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing expiation for lust-driven conduct, it treats kāma-moha as a binding impurity that obscures inner discipline—an ethical prerequisite for clarity of the Self in Yoga and dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a meditation technique but a discipline-supporting prāyaścitta: regulated living, humility through bhaikṣa (alms), and austerity after a lapse—meant to restore brahmacarya, which supports later yogic steadiness (citta-śuddhi).

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

This verse is primarily dharma-instruction rather than theology; within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such vows and expiations are shared foundations for both Śaiva (Pāśupata-oriented) and Vaiṣṇava sādhanā aimed at purity and God-realization.