Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

अकृत्वा समिदाधानं शुचिः स्नात्वा समाहितः / गायत्र्यष्टसहस्रस्य जप्यं कुर्याद् विशुद्धये

Transliteration

akṛtvā samidādhānaṃ śuciḥ snātvā samāhitaḥ / gāyatryaṣṭasahasrasya japyaṃ kuryād viśuddhaye

Translation

Ohne den Ritus des Einlegens der Brennhölzer (samidh) in das heilige Feuer zu vollziehen, soll man—rein, nach dem Bad und mit gesammeltem Geist—zur völligen Läuterung das Japa von achttausend Wiederholungen des Gāyatrī-Mantras verrichten.

Word by Word

• akṛtvā: without performing
• akṛtvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-kṛtvā (कृदन्त, √kṛ कृ)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvānta) with negation; avyaya usage; ‘without doing’

• samit-ādhānam: the placing of fuel-sticks (in fire)
• samit-ādhānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samit (प्रातिपदिक) + ādhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: samidām ādhānam (placing/offer of fuel-sticks)

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: snātvā (कृदन्त, √snā स्ना)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvānta), avyaya usage

• samāhitaḥ: composed/collected (in mind)
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāhita (कृदन्त, √dhā धा)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; PPP used adjectivally

• gāyatrī-aṣṭa-sahasrasya: of the eight-thousand (repetitions) of Gāyatrī
• gāyatrī-aṣṭa-sahasrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (sahasra as head), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana; dvigu: aṣṭa-sahasram (eight-thousand) of gāyatrī

• japyam: the japa to be done (muttering)
• japyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japya (कृदन्त, √jap जप्)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kṛdanta (gerundive/ya-pratyaya): ‘to be muttered’

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• viśuddhaye: for purification
• viśuddhaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Purpose-Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dat, 4th), Ekavacana; purpose dative

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers on dharma and purification practices

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gāyatrī
• Samidh
• Japa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that inner purity and steadiness of mind are prerequisites for realizing higher truth; purification through disciplined japa prepares the mind to reflect the Self (ātman) without distortion.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes mantra-yoga through Gāyatrī-japa, preceded by śauca (purity), snāna (ritual bathing), and samādhāna/samāhita-citta (mental collectedness)—a classic preparatory triad for effective meditation and sādhana.

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

While not naming Śiva directly, it reflects the Purana’s shared yogic-dharmic discipline valued across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams: purification and mantra-practice as common means toward the one Supreme reality taught in the Kūrma tradition.