Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

एकशय्यासनं पङ्क्तिर्भाण्डपक्वान्नमिश्रणम् / याजनाध्यापने योनिस्तथैव सहभोजनम्

Transliteration

ekaśayyāsanaṃ paṅktirbhāṇḍapakvānnamiśraṇam / yājanādhyāpane yonistathaiva sahabhojanam

Translation

Sharing the same bed or seat, sitting together in a dining-row, mixing cooked food and vessels, serving as priest or teacher across prohibited social boundaries, and likewise eating together—these are all regarded as the sources of improper intermixture.

Word by Word

• एक-शय्या-आसनम्: sharing one bed/seat
• एक-शय्या-आसनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic in nominal list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/विशेषणपूर्वक) — 'one bed and seat (shared)'

• पङ्क्तिः: (same) dining row
• पङ्क्तिः: कर्ता/विषय (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्क्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — 'row/line (eating in same line)'

• भाण्ड-पक्व-अन्न-मिश्रणम्: mixing of vessels and cooked food
• भाण्ड-पक्व-अन्न-मिश्रणम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (समाहार/षष्ठी-श्रृंखला) — 'mixing of cooked food and vessels (sharing/contamination)'

• याजन-अध्यापने: in officiating and teaching
• याजन-अध्यापने: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजन (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर) — 'in officiating sacrifices and teaching'

• योनिः: is the source (cause)
• योनिः: कर्ता/विषय (Predicate noun/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'source/cause/ground'

• तथा: thus
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb) — 'thus/so'

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle) — 'indeed/just'

• सह-भोजनम्: eating together
• सह-भोजनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह (अव्यय) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास — 'eating together'

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-teachings of the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Dharma
• Varnashrama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-śāstra in tone, focusing on outer conduct (ācāra) rather than directly defining Ātman; it implies that disciplined behavior supports inner purity, which is treated elsewhere as a prerequisite for higher knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yogic technique is taught here; the verse emphasizes yama-like restraints—regulated association, food discipline, and ethical boundaries—as foundational supports for sādhana in the broader Kurma Purana framework.

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

It does not explicitly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it contributes indirectly by laying down dharmic discipline that the Purana presents as compatible with both Shaiva (including Pāśupata) and Vaishnava devotional paths.