Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

भ्रातृभार्यां समारुह्य कुर्यात् तत्पापशान्तये / चान्द्रायणानि चत्वारि पञ्च वा सुसमाहितः

Transliteration

bhrātṛbhāryāṃ samāruhya kuryāt tatpāpaśāntaye / cāndrāyaṇāni catvāri pañca vā susamāhitaḥ

Translation

ആരെങ്കിലും സഹോദരന്റെ ഭാര്യയോടു അധർമ്മമായി ചേർന്നാൽ, ആ പാപശാന്തിക്കായി പൂർണ്ണ ഏകാഗ്രതയോടെ നാല്—അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അഞ്ച്—ചാന്ദ്രായണ വ്രതങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• bhrātṛ-bhāryāṃ: brother’s wife
• bhrātṛ-bhāryāṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘brother’s wife’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāruhya: having had intercourse with / having mounted
• samāruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √रुह् with prefixes सम्-आ-

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat-pāpa-śāntaye: for the pacification of that sin
• tat-pāpa-śāntaye: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: ‘for the pacification of that sin’; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन) (head: śānti)

• cāndrāyaṇāni: Cāndrāyaṇa vows
• cāndrāyaṇāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; agrees with चान्द्रायणानि

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Numeral; indeclinable-like; here qualifying plural neuter object

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (योजक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘or’

• su-samāhitaḥ: well-composed/fully attentive
• su-samāhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + samāhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya with intensifier su-; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective of agent

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma/prāyaścitta material as received from sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Cāndrāyaṇa
• Prāyaścitta
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames sin as a disturbance requiring purification, implying that clarity and steadiness of mind (samādhāna) are prerequisites for approaching the Self through disciplined living.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights disciplined austerity (tapas) coupled with mental collectedness (su-samāhitaḥ). The Cāndrāyaṇa is a regulated vow that trains restraint, attention, and purification—supportive of dhyāna and yogic self-governance.

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

Not explicitly in this line; however, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats purification, tapas, and inner steadiness as shared foundations across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths—ethical discipline preceding higher devotion and realization.