Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 127

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

Devanagari script

स्वष्ट्वा मायामयीं सीतां स रावणवधेप्सया / सीतामादाय धर्मिष्ठां पावको ऽन्तरधीयत

Transliteration

svaṣṭvā māyāmayīṃ sītāṃ sa rāvaṇavadhepsayā / sītāmādāya dharmiṣṭhāṃ pāvako 'ntaradhīyata

Translation

Demi menjayakan pembinasaan Rāvaṇa, Agni (Pāvaka) membentuk Sītā yang bersifat māyā; lalu baginda membawa pergi Sītā yang paling teguh dalam dharma, dan lenyap dari pandangan.

Word by Word

• स्रष्ट्वा: having created
• स्रष्ट्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), from √सृज् ‘to create’; ‘having created’ (पाठभेदः: स्वष्ट्वा/स्रष्ट्वा)

• माया-मयीम्: illusory, made of māyā
• माया-मयीम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: ‘मायायाः मयी’ (made of illusion)

• सीताम्: Sita (illusory form)
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• रावण-वध-ईप्सया: with the intention/desire of Ravana’s death
• रावण-वध-ईप्सया: Hetu (हेतु/Instrumental of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक) + īpsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: ‘रावणस्य वधः’ + ‘ईप्सा’ (desire for Ravana’s killing)

• सीताम्: Sita (true)
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken away
• आदाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/आदाय), from √दा with prefix आ-; ‘having taken’

• धर्मिष्ठाम्: most righteous
• धर्मिष्ठाम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; superlative (इष्ठ) of धर्मिन्/धर्म; qualifying ‘सीताम्’

• पावकः: Agni (fire)
• पावकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्तरधीयत: disappeared
• अन्तरधीयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular; from √धा with prefix अन्तर्-; ‘disappeared/withdrew’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/Vyāsa framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Ravana
• Agni (Pavaka)
• Maya (Māyā)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By distinguishing the “māyā-made” appearance from the protected, dharmic Sītā, the verse implies a metaphysical layering: the real (tattva) is safeguarded while a projected form (māyā) operates in the world—echoing Purāṇic teaching that ultimate reality stands untouched behind phenomenal display.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is prescribed, but the verse supports a key yogic insight used in Kurma Purana teachings: viveka (discernment) between reality and māyā, and steadfastness in dharma—foundational attitudes for Pāśupata-oriented discipline and inner purification.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic non-dual style where divine agencies (like Agni) serve the single cosmic purpose of dharma’s restoration—compatible with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis in which sectarian functions converge in one supreme order.