Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 20
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification
दीर्घामयान्वितं विप्रं कृत्वानामयमेव तु / दत्त्वा चान्नं स दुर्भिक्षे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति
dīrghāmayānvitaṃ vipraṃ kṛtvānāmayameva tu / dattvā cānnaṃ sa durbhikṣe brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati
ប្រសិនបើក្នុងគ្រាមានទុរ្ភិក្ស គេព្យាបាលព្រាហ្មណ៍ដែលមានជំងឺរ៉ាំរ៉ៃឱ្យជាសះស្បើយ និងផ្តល់អាហារដល់គាត់ គេនឹងលាងជម្រះអំពើបាបដ៏ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរនៃការសម្លាប់ព្រាហ្មណ៍បាន។
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on dāna-dharma and prāyaścitta
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly: it emphasizes inner purification (pāpa-kṣaya) through compassionate dharma; the Kurma Purana frames such purification as a prerequisite for steadiness of mind, which supports Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) taught more explicitly elsewhere (e.g., Ishvara Gita sections).
Not a seated meditation technique, but karma-yoga in a dhārmic form: selfless service (paropakāra) and annadāna in crisis, coupled with prāyaścitta. Such sattva-increasing action is treated as supportive discipline for higher yogic practice in the Purana’s broader teaching.
The verse is primarily ethical and expiatory rather than theological; consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shiva–Vishnu synthesis, it presents dharma and purification as universal means endorsed across sectarian lines, preparing the practitioner for devotion and yogic realization.