Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 12

Rules of Food, Acceptance, and Purity for the Twice-Born

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

अप्रजानां तु नारीणां भृतकस्य तथैव च / कारुकान्नं विशेषेण शस्त्रविक्रयिणस्तथा

Transliteration

aprajānāṃ tu nārīṇāṃ bhṛtakasya tathaiva ca / kārukānnaṃ viśeṣeṇa śastravikrayiṇastathā

Translation

Demikian juga, hendaklah dijauhi penerimaan makanan atau pemberian milik wanita yang tiada penjaga lelaki, milik orang upahan; khususnya milik para tukang/pertukangan; dan juga milik mereka yang mencari nafkah dengan menjual senjata.

Word by Word

• अप्रजानाम्: of childless (women)
• अप्रजानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; नञ्-समासभावः (अप्रजा = without offspring)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• भृतकस्य: of a hired servant
• भृतकस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कारुकान्नम्: food of an artisan/craftsman
• कारुकान्नम्: कर्म (implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारुक + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कारुकस्य अन्नम्)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (instrumental used adverbially: especially)

• शस्त्रविक्रयिणः: of a seller of weapons
• शस्त्रविक्रयिणः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र + विक्रयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शस्त्रस्य विक्रयी)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching as received from the divine discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Dharma (Dana-dharma)
• Varnashrama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it supports the dharmic discipline of purity (śauca) and right livelihood that stabilizes the mind for higher knowledge and yoga in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies preparatory disciplines—purity of sustenance and ethical restraint—seen as supportive limbs for sādhana (including Pāśupata-oriented restraint and self-control) by regulating what a seeker may accept as food or gifts.

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

Indirectly: the shared dharma framework (purity, restraint, regulated alms) is presented as common ground for both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis rather than sectarian opposition.