Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

परपूर्वासु भार्यासु पुत्रेषु कृतकेषु च / त्रिरात्रं स्यात् तथाचार्ये स्वभार्यास्वन्यगासु च

Transliteration

parapūrvāsu bhāryāsu putreṣu kṛtakeṣu ca / trirātraṃ syāt tathācārye svabhāryāsvanyagāsu ca

Translation

ಹಿಂದೆ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬನ ಪತ್ನಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಪತ್ನಿಯ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲೂ, ಕೃತಕ (ದತ್ತಕ) ಪುತ್ರರ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲೂ ಮೂರು ರಾತ್ರಿ ಅಶೌಚ. ಆಚಾರ್ಯನಿಗೂ ಮೂರು ರಾತ್ರಿ; ತನ್ನ ಪತ್ನಿ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬನ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಮೂರು ರಾತ್ರಿ ಎಂದೇ ವಿಧಿ.

Word by Word

• परपूर्वासु: in the case of former/previous (wives)
• परपूर्वासु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परपूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural; qualifies भार्यासु

• भार्यासु: among wives
• भार्यासु: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• पुत्रेषु: among sons
• पुत्रेषु: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• कृतकेषु: adopted/artificial (sons)
• कृतकेषु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural; qualifies पुत्रेषु (adopted/‘made’ sons)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय; conjunction

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights (for three nights)
• त्रिरात्रम्: कर्म (द्वितीया/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; time-measure noun

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb

• आचार्ये: in the case of the teacher
• आचार्ये: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• स्व-भार्यासु: among one’s own wives
• स्व-भार्यासु: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• अन्यगासु: gone to another (i.e., remarried/with another man)
• अन्यगासु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्यगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural; qualifies (wives)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय; conjunction

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions as taught in the dialogue tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Ācārya
• Bhāryā (wife)
• Putra (son)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly teach ātma-tattva; it frames dharma through rules of aśauca (ritual-social impurity), implying that disciplined conduct and purity support steadiness of mind—an indirect aid for spiritual realization emphasized elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is taught here; the focus is niyama-like discipline (regulated observance). In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such restraint and purification are treated as preparatory supports for mantra, worship, and meditative practices.

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

It does not mention Shiva–Vishnu unity directly; it contributes to the Purana’s integrated path by grounding spiritual life in dharma (right conduct), which the text presents as compatible with devotion and yogic pursuit across sectarian forms.