Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

बन्धकीगमने विप्रस्त्रिरात्रेण विशुद्ध्यति / गवि भथुनमासेव्य चरेच्चान्द्रायणव्रतम्

Transliteration

bandhakīgamane viprastrirātreṇa viśuddhyati / gavi bhathunamāsevya careccāndrāyaṇavratam

Translation

Si un brāhmaṇa tiene relaciones con una mujer de conducta reprobable, se purifica observando la purificación durante tres noches. Pero si tiene relaciones con una vaca, habiéndolo hecho, debe emprender el voto Cāndrāyaṇa como expiación.

Word by Word

• बन्धकी-गमने: in going to a prostitute (bandhakī)
• बन्धकी-गमने: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धकी (प्रातिपदिक) + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बन्धक्याः गमने)

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• त्रि-रात्रेण: by (observing) three nights
• त्रि-रात्रेण: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः रात्रयः)

• विशुद्ध्यति: becomes purified
• विशुद्ध्यति: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-प्रयोगः: परस्मैपद (विशुद्ध्यति)

• गवि: with a cow / in the case of a cow
• गवि: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्दः), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• मैथुनम्: sexual intercourse
• मैथुनम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आसेव्य: having engaged in
• आसेव्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (पूर्वक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-सेव् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावे (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: क्रिया (विधेय/Prescription)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• चान्द्रायण-व्रतम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa vow
• चान्द्रायण-व्रतम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चान्द्रायणस्य व्रतम्)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the dharma-teaching of the Kurma Purana’s sages on prāyaścitta

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Cāndrāyaṇa Vrata
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly teach Ātman-metaphysics; it focuses on dharma as external discipline—purification (śuddhi) through prescribed prāyaścitta—supporting inner clarity that is considered conducive to higher spiritual knowledge in the Purāṇic framework.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No meditative yoga is specified; the practice here is vrata-based discipline—especially the Cāndrāyaṇa vow—using regulated conduct, restraint, and ritual observance as a dharmic method to restore purity and eligibility for further sādhana.

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

The verse is not a sectarian teaching and does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu directly; it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis by prioritizing dharma (right conduct and expiation) as a shared foundation for devotion and liberation-oriented practice across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths.