Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas: Liquor, Theft, Sexual Transgression, Contact with the Fallen, and Homicide

Devanagari script

कुर्यादनशनं विप्रः पुण्यतीर्थे समाहितः / ज्वलन्तं वा विशेदग्निं ध्यात्वा देवं कपर्दिनम्

Transliteration

kuryādanaśanaṃ vipraḥ puṇyatīrthe samāhitaḥ / jvalantaṃ vā viśedagniṃ dhyātvā devaṃ kapardinam

Translation

A brāhmaṇa, collected in mind at a sacred tīrtha, should undertake the vow of fasting (anaśana); or else, having meditated upon the Lord Kapardin (Śiva, the matted-haired God), he may enter into blazing fire.

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अनशनम्: fasting
• अनशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• विप्रः: a brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• पुण्यतीर्थे: at a sacred tīrtha
• पुण्यतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—पुण्यं तीर्थम् इति कर्मधारयः

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (collected, composed)

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• ज्वलन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘अग्निम्’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• विशेत्: should enter
• विशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated on
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having meditated’

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• कपर्दिनम्: the matted-haired one (Śiva)
• कपर्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘देवम्’)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis on Pāśupata discipline).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Kapardin)
• Agni
• Tirtha
• Vipra (Brahmana)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By insisting on samāhita (collected) awareness and meditation on the Lord (Kapardin), the verse implies liberation is rooted in inner concentration on the divine reality rather than external action alone.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights samādhāna (mental collectedness) at a puṇya-tīrtha and dhyāna (meditation) on Śiva as Kapardin, framed within severe tapas such as anāśana (fasting) as part of a Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

With Kūrma (Viṣṇu) prescribing meditation on Kapardin (Śiva), the Purāṇa presents a complementary unity: devotion and yoga directed to Śiva are affirmed within a Vaiṣṇava narrative voice.