Shloka 15

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

एककालं चरेद् भैक्षं दोषं विख्यापयन् नृणाम् / वन्यमूलफलैर्वापि वर्तयेद् धैर्यमाक्षितः

Transliteration

ekakālaṃ cared bhaikṣaṃ doṣaṃ vikhyāpayan nṛṇām / vanyamūlaphalairvāpi vartayed dhairyamākṣitaḥ

Translation

托鉢は一日に一度のみとし、人々に向かって自らの過失を公に告げよ。あるいは森の根と果をもって身を支え、堅固にして忍耐を揺るがせるな。

Word by Word

• एककालम्: once (a day)
• एककालम्: क्रियाविशेषण (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक + काल (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषण (once a day/at one time)

• चरेत्: should practice/go about
• चरेत्: क्रिया (विधान)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भैक्षम्: begging for alms
• भैक्षम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दोषम्: fault/sin
• दोषम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विख्यापयन्: proclaiming/confessing
• विख्यापयन्: क्रियाविशेषण (सहकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √ख्याप् (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘while proclaiming/confessing’

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• वन्य: wild/forest
• वन्य: विशेषण (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘मूलफलैः’ इति विशेषणम् (wild/forest)

• मूलफलैः: with roots and fruits
• मूलफलैः: करण (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + फल (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: मूलानि च फलानि च

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (also/even)

• वर्तयेत्: should maintain
• वर्तयेत्: क्रिया (विधान)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘to maintain/continue’

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness
• धैर्यम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आक्षितः: afflicted/stricken
• आक्षितः: कर्ता (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √क्षि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who is afflicted/stricken’ (contextual)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and disciplined renunciant conduct

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Bhiksha (alms)
• Varnashrama Dharma

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By emphasizing endurance and independence from comforts, it points to inward stability: the seeker should rest in unshaken steadiness rather than external supports—an ethical foundation for realizing the Self beyond need and fear.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights tapas (austerity), niyama-like discipline (regulated intake—begging once daily), humility, and dhṛti (steadfastness). Such restraint supports meditative stability central to Kurma Purana’s yogic-dharma framework.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s shared Shaiva-Vaishnava ethic: the ideal practitioner cultivates tapas, humility, and steadiness—virtues praised across both Pashupata-oriented and Vishnu-taught dharma instructions.