Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

अष्टौ वर्षाणि षट् त्रीणि कुर्याद् ब्रह्महणो व्रतम् / हत्वा तु क्षत्रियं वैश्यं शूद्रं चैव यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

aṣṭau varṣāṇi ṣaṭ trīṇi kuryād brahmahaṇo vratam / hatvā tu kṣatriyaṃ vaiśyaṃ śūdraṃ caiva yathākramam

Translation

Für den Mörder eines Brahmanen sollte das vorgeschriebene Sühnegelübde acht Jahre lang durchgeführt werden; und für denjenigen, der einen Kṣatriya, einen Vaiśya und einen Śūdra getötet hat – sechs, drei bzw. ein Jahr, in der entsprechenden Reihenfolge.

Word by Word

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral used with varṣāṇi (semantic agreement)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural neuter (duration)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable numeral form); numeral modifying implied ‘years’

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; numeral (here with implied ‘years’)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• ब्रह्महणः: of a Brahmin-slayer
• ब्रह्महणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + हन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular masculine; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता)

• व्रतम्: vow/penance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• क्षत्रियम्: a Kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैश्यम्: a Vaiśya
• वैश्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शूद्रम्: a Śūdra
• शूद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle

• यथा-क्रमम्: in order, respectively
• यथा-क्रमम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; adverb ‘in due order’

Speaker

Vyāsa (narration within a dharma-prāyaścitta teaching context to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra
• Vrata
• Prāyaścitta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it frames ethical purification (prāyaścitta) as a prerequisite for inner clarity, which the Kurma Purana elsewhere links to Self-knowledge and liberation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights vrata and prāyaścitta—disciplined observances that purify conduct and mind; in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such purification supports steadiness for mantra, japa, and contemplative Yoga.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it reflects their shared dharma-framework in the Purana—moral restraint and expiation as foundations for devotion and Yoga taught across both Shaiva and Vaishnava strands.