Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)
स्वां तु नाक्रमयेच्छायां पतिताद्यैर्न रोगिभिः / नाङ्गारभस्मकेशादिष्वधितिष्ठेत् कदाचन
svāṃ tu nākramayecchāyāṃ patitādyairna rogibhiḥ / nāṅgārabhasmakeśādiṣvadhitiṣṭhet kadācana
Jangan biarkan bayangan diri diinjak oleh orang-orang yang jatuh dan semisalnya, maupun oleh orang yang sakit. Dan jangan pernah berdiri di atas bara, abu, rambut, dan sisa-sisa tak suci sejenisnya.
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on dharma and purity norms
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Indirectly: it emphasizes outer discipline (śauca and restraint) as a preparatory support for inner clarity, which the Purāṇa treats as conducive to steadiness of mind for realizing the Self.
It highlights ethical-ritual discipline—cleanliness, careful bodily conduct, and avoidance of impurity—which function as foundational niyama-like supports for higher yoga (including the Kurma Purana’s later Pāśupata-oriented spiritual discipline).
By presenting a shared dharma framework: the purity-and-conduct codes taught by Lord Kūrma align with broader Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava soteriology in the text, where disciplined conduct supports devotion and liberation irrespective of sectarian emphasis.