Uttara Bhaga Adhyaya 33 Shloka 10 - Kurma Purana | Malayalam | Vedapath

Vyasa

Shloka 10

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

नकुलोलूकमार्जारं जग्ध्वा सांतपनं चरेत् / श्वापदोष्ट्रखराञ्जग्ध्वा तप्तकृच्छ्रेण शुद्ध्यति / व्रतवच्चैव संस्कारं पूर्वेण विधिनैव तु

Transliteration

nakulolūkamārjāraṃ jagdhvā sāṃtapanaṃ caret / śvāpadoṣṭrakharāñjagdhvā taptakṛcchreṇa śuddhyati / vratavaccaiva saṃskāraṃ pūrveṇa vidhinaiva tu

Translation

നകുലം, മൂങ്ങ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പൂച്ചയുടെ മാംസം ഭക്ഷിച്ചാൽ ‘സാന്തപന’ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം ആചരിക്കണം. ശ്വാപദം (ഹിംസക വന്യമൃഗം), ഒട്ടകം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കഴുത ഭക്ഷിച്ചാൽ ‘തപ്തകൃച്ഛ്ര’ തപസ്സാൽ ശുദ്ധി ലഭിക്കും. വ്രതംപോലെ സമാപന-സംസ്കാരവും മുൻപറഞ്ഞ വിധിപ്രകാരം തന്നേ ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

नकुल-उलूक-मार्जारम्mongoose, owl and cat (as food)

जग्ध्वाhaving eaten

सांतपनम्the Sāṃtapana penance

चरेत्should perform/practise

श्वापद-उष्ट्र-खरान्wild beasts, camels and donkeys

जग्ध्वाhaving eaten

तप्त-कृच्छ्रेणby the ‘taptakṛcchra’ penance

शुद्ध्यतिis purified

व्रतवत्in the manner of a vow

चand

एवindeed/only

संस्कारम्purificatory rite/observance

पूर्वेणby the earlier (one)

विधिनाby the prescribed rule

एवindeed

तुbut/indeed

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-śāstra injunctions to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

Sāṃtapana (prāyaścitta)

Taptakṛcchra (prāyaścitta)

Vrata (vow-discipline)

Saṃskāra (concluding rite)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-śāstra in focus: it teaches ritual-ethical purification through prāyaścitta rather than offering a direct metaphysical exposition of Ātman. Its implied teaching is that disciplined action (vrata and expiation) restores inner and outer purity, which supports spiritual pursuit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is taught here; instead, it emphasizes tapas (austerity) through Sāṃtapana and Taptakṛcchra—forms of self-discipline that function as preparatory purification (śuddhi) conducive to higher sādhana, including later yogic teachings in the Purana.

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

The verse does not explicitly discuss Shiva–Vishnu theology; it reflects the Purana’s broader synthesis indirectly by presenting purification and vow-discipline as universally dharmic means accepted across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions for maintaining eligibility for worship and spiritual practice.