Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

दाहाद्यशौचं कर्तव्यं द्विजानामग्निहोत्रिणाम् / सपिण्डानां तु मरणे मरणादितरेषु च

Transliteration

dāhādyaśaucaṃ kartavyaṃ dvijānāmagnihotriṇām / sapiṇḍānāṃ tu maraṇe maraṇāditareṣu ca

Translation

For twice-born householders who maintain the sacred fires of Agnihotra, aśauca—ritual impurity—must be observed beginning with the cremation and its attendant rites; this applies upon the death of one’s sapiṇḍa kin, and likewise in other death-related occasions.

Word by Word

• dāha-ādi-aśaucam: impurity beginning with cremation, etc.
• dāha-ādi-aśaucam: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + aśauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—दाहादि इति पूर्वपदेन विशेषितम् ‘अशौचम्’

• kartavyam: is to be observed / must be done
• kartavyam: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); विधेयविशेषणम्

• dvijānām: of the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• agnihotriṇām: of the agnihotra-performers
• agnihotriṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agnihotrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sapiṇḍānām: of sapindas (kinsmen sharing funeral oblations)
• sapiṇḍānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapiṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• maraṇe: in the case of death
• maraṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• maraṇāt: than death / from death
• maraṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• itareṣu: in other (cases)
• itareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषणम् (elliptic: ‘(aśauceṣu)’)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Agnihotrin
• Dvija
• Sapiṇḍa
• Aśauca

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it frames the dharmic discipline of a householder (especially an Agnihotrin), implying that spiritual pursuit in the Kurma Purana is supported by regulated conduct and purity observances.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is stated; the focus is on Varnāśrama-based purity rules (aśauca) that stabilize a practitioner’s ritual and ethical life, which the Kurma Purana treats as a foundation for higher sādhanā, including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and yogic discipline.

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

The verse is primarily dharma-legal rather than theological; indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis by presenting disciplined ritual life as compatible with the broader Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava spiritual path taught elsewhere in the text.