Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26
Rules of Food, Acceptance, and Purity for the Twice-Born
Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa
केशकीटावपन्नं च सहृल्लेखं च नित्यशः / श्वाघ्रातं च पुनः सिद्धं चण्डालावेक्षितं तथा
keśakīṭāvapannaṃ ca sahṛllekhaṃ ca nityaśaḥ / śvāghrātaṃ ca punaḥ siddhaṃ caṇḍālāvekṣitaṃ tathā
जिस अन्न में बाल या कीट गिर पड़े हों, जो बार-बार स्पर्श से दूषित होता हो; जिसे कुत्ते ने सूँघ लिया हो; जो पहले पकाकर फिर दुबारा पकाया गया हो; और जिसे चाण्डाल ने देख लिया हो—ऐसा अन्न अपवित्र मानकर त्यागे।
Vyasa (narration of dharma-śāstra style rules within the Kurma Purana’s discourse)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse does not directly define Ātman; it establishes śauca (purity) as a practical dharmic discipline that supports steadiness of mind—an enabling condition for higher knowledge of the Self taught elsewhere in the Purāṇa.
No specific āsana or dhyāna is described; the focus is on āhāra-śuddhi (purity of food) as part of śauca-niyama—ethical-ritual discipline that stabilizes the sādhaka and is treated as supportive to Yoga and Pāśupata-oriented practice in the Kurma tradition.
The verse is a dharma rule rather than a theological statement; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s synthesis by grounding spiritual pursuit (whether Vaiṣṇava or Śaiva/Pāśupata) in shared disciplines like purity, restraint, and right conduct.