Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

Bhojana-vidhi and Nitya-karman: Directions for Eating, Prāṇa-Oblations, Sandhyā, and Conduct Leading to Apavarga

Devanagari script

मुक्ते शशिनि भुञ्जीत यदि न स्यान्महानिशा / अमुक्तयोरस्तङ्गतयोरद्याद् दृष्ट्वा परे ऽहनि

Transliteration

mukte śaśini bhuñjīta yadi na syānmahāniśā / amuktayorastaṅgatayoradyād dṛṣṭvā pare 'hani

Translation

ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ମୁକ୍ତ (ଉଦିତ) ହେଲେ, ‘ମହାନିଶା’ (ନିୟତ ଉପବାସ‑ରାତ୍ରି) ନ ଥିଲେ ଭୋଜନ କରିପାରେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ‑ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଉଭୟ ଅନୁଦିତ ଥିଲେ କିମ୍ବା ଅସ୍ତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ, ପରଦିନ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖି ପରେ ମାତ୍ର ଭୋଜନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• mukte: when (it is) released
• mukte: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/temporal)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; ‘मुक्ते (सति)’

• śaśini: in the moon (lunar eclipse context)
• śaśini: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• bhuñjīta: should eat
• bhuñjīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; धातुः: भुज् (to eat/enjoy)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-प्रदर्शक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; धातुः: अस् (to be)

• mahā-niśā: a great night (late night)
• mahā-niśā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः ‘महती च सा निशा’

• a-muktayoḥ: while both are not released
• a-muktayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/temporal)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + mukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (ग्रहयोः) षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनम्; अत्र सप्तमी-द्विवचनम् (Locative/7th, Dual): ‘अमुक्तयोः (सतोः)’ = while both are not released

• astaṅgatayoḥ: while both have set
• astaṅgatayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/temporal)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: astaṅgata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (ग्रहयोः) सप्तमी-द्विवचनम् (Locative/7th, Dual): ‘अस्तङ्गतयोः’ = while both have set

• adyāt: should eat
• adyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad (अद् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातुः: दृश् (to see)

• pare: on the next
• pare: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपम्; अत्र ‘परे अहनि’ इति नपुंसक-प्रयोगः (Locative/7th, Singular)

• ahani: day
• ahani: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-vidhi as taught by the sages within the Kurma Purana’s vrata context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Śaśin (Moon)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames self-mastery through disciplined timing and restraint, which the Kurma Purana treats as supportive of inner purity (śuddhi) needed for higher knowledge of Ātman/Iśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes vrata-niyama (disciplinary observance) and control of appetite and timing—foundational restraints that support steadiness of mind (citta-sthairya) for mantra, japa, and contemplative worship in the Kurma Purana’s yogic-dharma framework.

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

By presenting dharma as a shared, non-sectarian discipline: such observances are upheld across Shaiva and Vaishnava practice in the Kurma Purana, where devotion and restraint converge toward one supreme goal.