Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 142

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

एतते पतिव्रतानां वैं माहात्म्यं कथितं मया / स्त्रीणां सर्वाघशमनं प्रायश्चित्तमिदं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

etate pativratānāṃ vaiṃ māhātmyaṃ kathitaṃ mayā / strīṇāṃ sarvāghaśamanaṃ prāyaścittamidaṃ smṛtam

Translation

かくして我は、夫に貞節を尽くすパティヴラターの女性たちの大いなる功徳を説き明かした。これは女性のための贖罪（プラーヤシュチッタ）として記憶され、あらゆる罪を鎮め除くとされる。

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; संदर्भसूचक (deictic)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’ (enclitic)

• पतिव्रतानाम्: of devoted wives (pativratās)
• पतिव्रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति + व्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: पतिं व्रतं यस्याः/यासां (devoted-to-husband)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness; glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• सर्वाघशमनम्: removal of all sins
• सर्वाघशमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अघ + शमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषाम् अघानां शमनम् (removal of all sins)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages (frame narration of the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pativrata-dharma
• Prayaschitta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma- and prayāścitta-focused: it presents pativratā-dharma as a purifying discipline rather than offering a direct metaphysical teaching about Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this line; instead, it frames ethical vow-based discipline (vrata) as a purificatory practice that functions like spiritual atonement (prāyaścitta).

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; however, its emphasis on dharma and purification aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where devotion and disciplined conduct support liberation-oriented teachings found elsewhere (e.g., Ishvara Gita, Pashupata-oriented sections).