Previous Verse
Next Verse

Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

गर्भच्युतावहोरात्रं सपिण्डे ऽत्यन्तनिर्गुणे / यथेष्टाचरणे ज्ञातौ त्रिरात्रमिति निश्चयः

garbhacyutāvahorātraṃ sapiṇḍe 'tyantanirguṇe / yatheṣṭācaraṇe jñātau trirātramiti niścayaḥ

Bila terjadi garbha-cyuti (keguguran), aśauca berlangsung satu siang dan satu malam. Adapun bagi kerabat sapiṇḍa yang sama sekali tanpa kebajikan, serta bagi sanak yang hidup semaunya (tanpa disiplin), ditetapkan aśauca tiga malam.

गर्भच्युतेin (the case of) miscarriage
गर्भच्युते:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootगर्भच्युत (प्रातिपदिक; गर्भ + च्युत)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in case of miscarriage'
अहोरात्रम्for a day and a night
अहोरात्रम्:
कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; अहस् + रात्रि)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular used adverbially (कालपरिमाण)
सपिण्डेin the case of a sapinda relation
सपिण्डे:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'among/with a sapinda (same funeral cake lineage)'
अत्यन्तनिर्गुणेin an utterly unqualified/very low (relation)
अत्यन्तनिर्गुणे:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअत्यन्तनिर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक; अत्यन्त + निर्गुण)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; qualifying the person/relation
यथेष्टाचरणेin one who acts as he likes
यथेष्टाचरणे:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootयथेष्टाचरण (प्रातिपदिक; यथा-इष्ट + आचरण)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in one who behaves as he pleases'
ज्ञातौin the case of a relative
ज्ञातौ:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in a kinsman'
त्रिरात्रम्for three nights (three days)
त्रिरात्रम्:
कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + रात्र)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular (कालपरिमाण)
इतिthus
इति:
सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formइति-शब्दः; quotation/marker particle (उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय)
निश्चयःthe determination/decision
निश्चयः:
कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनिश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

Sūta (narrator) relaying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions to the sages

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

S
Sapinda
G
Garbha (womb/pregnancy)
J
Jñāti (kinsman)

FAQs

It does not directly teach Atman-doctrine; instead it regulates āśauca, showing that spiritual life in the Kurma Purana integrates inner realization with disciplined dharmic observance.

No explicit yoga practice is given; the verse supports yogic discipline indirectly by emphasizing niyama-like restraint and orderly conduct (as opposed to yatheṣṭācāra), which the Purana treats as supportive of sādhana.

It does not mention Shiva–Vishnu unity explicitly; it reflects the Purana’s broader synthesis where shared dharma and purity-discipline form the common ground for both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava devotional paths.