Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

अथोर्ध्वं दन्तजननात् सपिण्डानामशौचकम् / एकरात्रं निर्गुणानां चैलादूर्ध्वं त्रिरात्रकम्

Transliteration

athordhvaṃ dantajananāt sapiṇḍānāmaśaucakam / ekarātraṃ nirguṇānāṃ cailādūrdhvaṃ trirātrakam

Translation

Thereafter, when the child’s teeth begin to appear, the sapinda kin (those joined by the ancestral piṇḍa offering) shall observe aśauca, ritual impurity. For those lacking the prescribed ritual qualifications it lasts one night; but from the stage of receiving cloth onward, it is three nights.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereafter
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: afterwards/above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: upwards/after)

• दन्त-जननात्: from the eruption/birth of teeth
• दन्त-जननात्: Apadana (अपादान/from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (अपादान/ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दन्तानां जननम्)

• सपिण्डानाम्: of the sapinda relatives
• सपिण्डानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/genitive), बहुवचन

• अशौचकम्: impurity period (aśauca)
• अशौचकम्: Karma (कर्म/that which is prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शौचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (context: predicate/measure)

• एक-रात्रम्: one night
• एक-रात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/measure prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एकः रात्रः यस्य/परिमाणम्)

• निर्गुणानाम्: of those without (good) qualities
• निर्गुणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चैलात्: from the (first) cloth/garment
• चैलात्: Apadana (अपादान/from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (ablative: from the cloth/garment)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: thereafter
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thereafter/above)

• त्रि-रात्रकम्: three nights
• त्रि-रात्रकम्: Karma (कर्म/measure prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः रात्रयः परिमाणम्)

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Purana discourse) conveying dharma-śāstric injunctions (vidhi) within the Kurma Purana frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Sapinda
• Ashauca

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is not an Atman-teaching passage; it is a dharma-vidhi on aśauca (ritual impurity) periods connected with birth and family (sapinda) relations.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No yogic technique is taught here. The verse belongs to the Kurma Purana’s dharma section regulating purity/impurity; yogic instruction is more characteristic of the Upari-bhaga (including the Ishvara Gita and Pashupata-oriented teachings).

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

It does not directly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it focuses on social-ritual dharma (aśauca) rules. The synthesis is thematic across the Purana, while this verse functions as a practical injunction.