Shloka 87
Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)
न देवायतनं गच्छेत् कदाचिद् वाप्रदक्षिणम् / न वीजयेद् वा वस्त्रेण न देवायतने स्वपेत्
na devāyatanaṃ gacchet kadācid vāpradakṣiṇam / na vījayed vā vastreṇa na devāyatane svapet
ദേവാലയത്തിൽ ഒരിക്കലും അശുദ്ധമായി പ്രദക്ഷിണം ചെയ്യരുത്. വസ്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് വീശരുത്; ദേവാലയത്തിനുള്ളിൽ/പ്രാകാരത്തിൽ ഉറങ്ങരുത്.
Traditional narration in the Kurma Purana (instructional dharma-teaching context; framed as sacred guidance attributed to the Purana’s authoritative voice, aligned with Lord Kurma’s dharma-upadesha stream)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It approaches the Supreme indirectly: by prescribing disciplined conduct in the deity’s abode, it teaches that inner reverence and self-restraint are essential supports for realizing the sacred (Atman/Ishvara) through purified mind and behavior.
It emphasizes preparatory yogic discipline (yama-like restraint and śauca through proper ācāra): maintaining reverent movement (pradakṣiṇā), avoiding casual bodily acts like fanning with cloth, and not treating the temple as a place for sleep—supporting steadiness and devotional concentration.
By focusing on universal devalaya-maryādā rather than sectarian markers, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the same sacred etiquette applies in the worship-space of Ishvara—whether approached as Shiva, Vishnu, or the one Supreme.