Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

शिशुमारं तथा चाषं मत्स्यमांसं तथैव च / जग्ध्वा चैव कटाहारमेतदेव चरेद् व्रतम्

Transliteration

śiśumāraṃ tathā cāṣaṃ matsyamāṃsaṃ tathaiva ca / jagdhvā caiva kaṭāhārametadeva cared vratam

Translation

ശിശുമാരം, ചാഷം, കൂടാതെ മത്സ്യമാംസം ഭക്ഷിച്ചാൽ, തുടർന്ന് കടാഹാരം (അത്യल्पവും ലളിതവുമായ ആഹാരം) മാത്രം സ്വീകരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്, ഇതേ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തവ്രതം ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• शिशुमारम्: dolphin/porpoise
• शिशुमारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• आषम्: āṣa (a kind of fish/bird; rare term)
• आषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-शब्द)

• मत्स्य-मांसम्: fish-meat
• मत्स्य-मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: ‘fish’s flesh’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• जग्ध्वा: having eaten
• जग्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्/ग्रस (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त, ‘having eaten’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• कटाहारम्: kaṭāhāra (a particular food/meal; technical term)
• कटाहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटाहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• चरेत्: should practise
• चरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse tradition; specific speaker not explicit in the isolated verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes vrata-discipline (niyama) through regulated diet, a preparatory purification that supports steadiness of mind—classically taught as conducive to Self-knowledge rather than a direct metaphysical statement about Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights niyama-like restraint through prescribed food (āhāra-niyama). In Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-dharma frame, such regulation is treated as supportive to concentration, mantra, and worship-based yogic practice.

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

Not explicitly. Its contribution to the Kurma Purana’s synthesis is practical: shared dharmic disciplines (vrata, restraint, purity) function as common ground across Shaiva and Vaishnava observance.