Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 21

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

गर्भच्युतावहोरात्रं सपिण्डे ऽत्यन्तनिर्गुणे / यथेष्टाचरणे ज्ञातौ त्रिरात्रमिति निश्चयः

Transliteration

garbhacyutāvahorātraṃ sapiṇḍe 'tyantanirguṇe / yatheṣṭācaraṇe jñātau trirātramiti niścayaḥ

Translation

ଗର୍ଭଚ୍ୟୁତି (ଗର୍ଭପାତ) ହେଲେ ଏକ ଅହୋରାତ୍ର ଆଶୌଚ। ଏବଂ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ନିର୍ଗୁଣ ସପିଣ୍ଡ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀ, ତଥା ଯଥେଷ୍ଟାଚରଣ (ଅନୁଶାସନହୀନ) ଜ୍ଞାତି—ଏମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ତ୍ରିରାତ୍ର ଆଶୌଚ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ।

Word by Word

• गर्भच्युते: in (the case of) miscarriage
• गर्भच्युते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भच्युत (प्रातिपदिक; गर्भ + च्युत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in case of miscarriage'

• अहोरात्रम्: for a day and a night
• अहोरात्रम्: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; अहस् + रात्रि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular used adverbially (कालपरिमाण)

• सपिण्डे: in the case of a sapinda relation
• सपिण्डे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'among/with a sapinda (same funeral cake lineage)'

• अत्यन्तनिर्गुणे: in an utterly unqualified/very low (relation)
• अत्यन्तनिर्गुणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्तनिर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक; अत्यन्त + निर्गुण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; qualifying the person/relation

• यथेष्टाचरणे: in one who acts as he likes
• यथेष्टाचरणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथेष्टाचरण (प्रातिपदिक; यथा-इष्ट + आचरण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in one who behaves as he pleases'

• ज्ञातौ: in the case of a relative
• ज्ञातौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in a kinsman'

• त्रिरात्रम्: for three nights (three days)
• त्रिरात्रम्: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + रात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular (कालपरिमाण)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः; quotation/marker particle (उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय)

• निश्चयः: the determination/decision
• निश्चयः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relaying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instructions to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Sapinda
• Garbha (womb/pregnancy)
• Jñāti (kinsman)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly teach Atman-doctrine; instead it regulates āśauca, showing that spiritual life in the Kurma Purana integrates inner realization with disciplined dharmic observance.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga practice is given; the verse supports yogic discipline indirectly by emphasizing niyama-like restraint and orderly conduct (as opposed to yatheṣṭācāra), which the Purana treats as supportive of sādhana.

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

It does not mention Shiva–Vishnu unity explicitly; it reflects the Purana’s broader synthesis where shared dharma and purity-discipline form the common ground for both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava devotional paths.