Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

शुनो मांसं शुष्कमांसमात्मार्थं च तथा कृतम् / भुक्त्वा मासं चरेदेतत् तत्पापस्यापनुत्तये

Transliteration

śuno māṃsaṃ śuṣkamāṃsamātmārthaṃ ca tathā kṛtam / bhuktvā māsaṃ caredetat tatpāpasyāpanuttaye

Translation

कुत्र्याचे मांस, सुकवलेले मांस किंवा स्वतःच्या भोगासाठी केलेले मांस खाल्ल्यास, त्या पापाच्या निवारणासाठी हे व्रत एक महिना करावे।

Word by Word

• शुनः: of a dog
• शुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुष्कमांसम्: dried meat
• शुष्कमांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्क + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुष्कं मांसम्)

• आत्मार्थम्: for one’s own sake
• आत्मार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः आत्मनः अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

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

• कृतम्: prepared/made
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मांसम् इत्यस्य)

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), ‘having eaten’

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालावधि

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

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

• तत्पापस्य: of that sin
• तत्पापस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तस्य पापम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अपनुत्तये: for the removal
• अपनुत्तये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप + नुद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त-भाववाचक/उद्देश्यवाचक रूप (अपनुत्ति/अपनुत्तयि-प्रातिपदिक), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for removal)

Speaker

Vyasa (narratorial instruction within a Dharma/Prāyaścitta section)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Prāyaścitta
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It uses “ātma-artham” in the ethical sense—acting for self-indulgence—implying that dharma requires mastery over personal craving; purification disciplines support inner clarity needed for realizing the higher Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes a month-long observance (vrata/prāyaścitta) as a yogic restraint (yama-like discipline): regulating consumption and conduct to restore purity, which is treated in Purāṇic yoga as a foundation for mantra, worship, and meditation.

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

Indirectly: it reflects the shared dharma framework upheld across Shaiva-Vaishnava Purāṇas—ethical purification and vow-based discipline are presented as universally valid supports for devotion and liberation, regardless of the chosen deity-form.