Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

विधूमे सन्नमुसले व्यङ्गारे भुक्तवज्जने / वृत्ते शरावसंपाते भिक्षां नित्यं यतिश्चरेत्

Transliteration

vidhūme sannamusale vyaṅgāre bhuktavajjane / vṛtte śarāvasaṃpāte bhikṣāṃ nityaṃ yatiścaret

Translation

A renunciant should go daily for alms only when the household fire is without smoke, the pestle and mortar have been set aside, the embers have cooled, the people have finished eating, and the vessels have been put away—so that his begging does not burden the householder.

Word by Word

• विधूमे: when there is no smoke / in a smokeless (state)
• विधूमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञर्थ-उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण (smokeless)

• सन्: being
• सन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• अमुसले: without a pestle
• अमुसले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासान्त विशेषण (without pestle)

• व्यङ्गारे: without embers/coals
• व्यङ्गारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+अङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (with coals removed/without embers)

• भुक्तवत्: as if eaten/after eating
• भुक्तवत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• जने: among people
• जने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वृत्ते: when finished
• वृत्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (वृत्ते = when (the meal) is finished/ended)

• शरावसंपाते: at the heap of bowls/plates
• शरावसंपाते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शराव (प्रातिपदिक) + संपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शरावाणां संपातः = collection/heap of bowls/plates)

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• यतिः: the ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• चरेत्: should go about (for alms)
• चरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) summarizing dharma-teachings on yati-dharma within the Kurma Purana’s discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Yati
• Gṛhastha
• Bhikṣā
• Agni (household fire)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing non-injury and non-burdening conduct, it supports the yogic purification (śuddhi) that makes the mind fit for realizing the Self beyond dependence and possessiveness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights yama-like restraints—especially ahiṃsā and aparigraha—expressed as disciplined bhikṣā: the yati times his alms-round to avoid disturbing household duties, cultivating humility, restraint, and steadiness supportive of meditation.

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

Not explicitly; however, the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis is reflected in shared dharma and yogic discipline—ethical restraint is presented as a common foundation for devotion and realization across sectarian lines.