Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

पीत्वा क्षीराण्यपेयानि ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः / गोमूत्रयावकाहारो मासेनैकेन शुद्ध्यति

Transliteration

pītvā kṣīrāṇyapeyāni brahmacārī samāhitaḥ / gomūtrayāvakāhāro māsenaikena śuddhyati

Translation

സംയമനിഷ്ഠനായ ബ്രഹ്മചാരി പാൽ മുതലായ അനുമത പാനീയങ്ങൾ കുടിച്ച്, ഗോമൂത്രവും യാവകവും (യവകഞ്ഞി) ആഹാരമാക്കി, ഒരു മാസത്തിനകം ശുദ്ധി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• क्षीराणि: milks
• क्षीराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपेयानि: not to be drunk (forbidden)
• अपेयानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपेय (प्रातिपदिक: अ- + पेय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (क्षीराणि)

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

• समाहितः: composed/collected
• समाहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (ब्रह्मचारी)

• गोमूत्रयावकाहारः: one whose diet is cow-urine and yāvaka
• गोमूत्रयावकाहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमूत्र + यावक + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—गोमूत्रं यावकः च आहारः यस्य/आहारः (diet consisting of cow-urine and barley-gruel)

• मासेन: by/within a month
• मासेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; काल-करणे (within/by a month)

• एकेन: one/single
• एकेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (मासेन)

• शुद्ध्यति: is purified
• शुद्ध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Vyāsa (narratorial voice) conveying dharma-śāstric prāyaścitta guidelines within the Kurma Purana’s teaching frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacārin
• Gomūtra
• Yāvaka (barley)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it presents bodily and ethical purification (śauca, tapas, brahmacarya) as preparatory disciplines that steady the mind (samāhita) for higher knowledge—traditionally the condition for clear discernment of Ātman beyond impurity and distraction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes pre-yogic restraints and observances: brahmacarya (celibate discipline), regulated diet, austerity (tapas), and mental collectedness (samāhita). In the Kurma Purana’s broader soteriology, such purification supports steadiness for mantra, dhyāna, and devotional contemplation central to Pāśupata-leaning practice.

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

This verse is primarily dharma-prāyaścitta instruction rather than explicit theology; however, its stress on śauca and tapas aligns with the Purana’s integrative path where disciplined conduct supports devotion and realization honored across both Śaiva (Pāśupata-tapas) and Vaiṣṇava (self-control and purity) frameworks.