Shloka 16

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas: Liquor, Theft, Sexual Transgression, Contact with the Fallen, and Homicide

Devanagari script

काले ऽष्टमे वा भुञ्जानो ब्रह्मचारी सदाव्रती / स्थानासनाभ्यां विहरंस्त्रिरह्नो ऽभ्युपयन्नपः

Transliteration

kāle 'ṣṭame vā bhuñjāno brahmacārī sadāvratī / sthānāsanābhyāṃ viharaṃstrirahno 'bhyupayannapaḥ

Translation

നിത്യവും വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്ന ബ്രഹ്മചാരി എട്ടാമത്തെ സമയത്ത് ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കണം. നിൽക്കുകയോ ഇരിക്കുകയോ മാത്രം ചെയ്ത്, ദിവസത്തിൽ മൂന്നുതവണ ജലം ആചമിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अष्टमे: eighth
• अष्टमे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (eighth)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• भुञ्जानः: eating
• भुञ्जानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (eating)

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• व्रती: one observing vows
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक (vowed/observant)

• स्थान-आसनाभ्याम्: by standing and sitting
• स्थान-आसनाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (standing and sitting)

• विहरन्: moving about
• विहरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (moving about/engaging)

• त्रि-अह्नः: of three daily periods
• त्रि-अह्नः: Kala-sambandha (कालसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रीणाम् अह्नाम् = of three times a day)

• अभ्युपयन्: taking/partaking
• अभ्युपयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-उप-इ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (approaching/partaking)

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; जलम्

Speaker

Narrator/Sūta transmitting a dharma-śāstric instruction within the Kurma Purana’s vrata context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacarya
• Vrata
• Ācamana (ritual sipping of water)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing brahmacarya, restraint, and regulated intake, the verse points to purification of body-mind as a prerequisite for steady contemplation in which the Atman is recognized as distinct from sensory impulses and habitual craving.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes ethical and behavioral Yoga foundations: brahmacarya (continence), niyama-like regularity in eating, minimal postural engagement (standing/sitting), and trirātra/triḥ-ahnaḥ ācamana—supporting steadiness (sthira) and clarity for higher sādhana associated with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

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

Indirectly: the shared ascetic code (vrata, brahmacarya, regulated living) reflects the Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, where devotion and discipline are treated as common means to the one Supreme Lord revered as Shiva or Vishnu.