Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 73

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गे त्रिरात्रं क्षपणं स्मृतम् / अष्टकासु त्वहोरात्रं ऋत्वन्त्यासु च रात्रिषु

Transliteration

upākarmaṇi cotsarge trirātraṃ kṣapaṇaṃ smṛtam / aṣṭakāsu tvahorātraṃ ṛtvantyāsu ca rātriṣu

Translation

ଉପାକର୍ମ ଓ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କାଳେ ତିନି ରାତିର କ୍ଷପଣ (ପ୍ରାୟଶ୍ଚିତ୍ତ-ବ୍ରତ) ସ୍ମୃତ; ଅଷ୍ଟକା ଦିନରେ ଅହୋରାତ୍ର, ଏବଂ ଋତୁ-ଅନ୍ତ୍ୟ ରାତିଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାହା ପାଳନୀୟ।

Word by Word

• upākarmaṇi: at the upākarma rite
• upākarmaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upākarma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• utsarge: at the utsarga (release/ending) rite
• utsarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• trirātram: for three nights
• trirātram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; द्विगु = 'three nights' (duration)

• kṣapaṇam: abstinence/fasting (observance)
• kṣapaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣapaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• smṛtam: is prescribed/remembered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛta (कृदन्त; √smṛ धातु, PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle used predicatively; Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; 'is remembered/declared'

• aṣṭakāsu: on the aṣṭakā days
• aṣṭakāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Plural

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative/contrast particle (तु)

• ahorātram: for a day and night (24 hours)
• ahorātram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahas (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; द्वन्द्व (itaretara) = 'day and night' (a full day)

• ṛtvantyāsu: on the ṛtvantī nights
• ṛtvantyāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtvantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Plural; name of certain nights/observances

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• rātriṣu: in/among nights
• rātriṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) Plural

Speaker

Vyāsa (narrating dharma-teachings to the sages in Purāṇic discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Upākarman
• Utsarga
• Aṣṭakā
• Ṛtu (seasonal rites)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined purification (śauca/prāyaścitta) as a dharmic foundation that steadies the mind, making it fit for higher knowledge of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a meditation technique directly, but a preparatory discipline: regulated fasting/expiation (kṣapaṇa) tied to Vedic observances, supporting self-control (saṃyama) that complements Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā described in other sections.

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

By placing strict dharma and purification at the center of spiritual life, it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrative ethos: the same disciplined conduct undergirds both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths, later harmonized in its Shiva–Vishnu unity teachings.