Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

षड्रात्रं वा त्रिरात्रं स्यादेकरात्रं क्रमेण हि / वैश्यक्षत्रियविप्राणां शूद्रेष्वाशौचमेव तु

Transliteration

ṣaḍrātraṃ vā trirātraṃ syādekarātraṃ krameṇa hi / vaiśyakṣatriyaviprāṇāṃ śūdreṣvāśaucameva tu

Translation

କ୍ରମେ ବୈଶ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଷଡ୍ରାତ୍ର, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ପାଇଁ ତ୍ରିରାତ୍ର, ଓ ବିପ୍ର (ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ) ପାଇଁ ଏକରାତ୍ର ଅଶୌଚକାଳ ଅଟେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଶୂଦ୍ର ପାଇଁ କେବଳ ଅଶୌଚର (ଅଳ୍ପ/ସୀମିତ) ପାଳନ ମାତ୍ର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ।

Word by Word

• ṣaḍ-rātram: six nights (period)
• ṣaḍ-rātram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu-samāsa (द्विगु): ṣaṇṇāṃ rātrāṇām samāhāraḥ; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc) Ekavacana (context: duration as predicate)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vikalpa-artha particle (option/‘or’)

• tri-rātram: three nights (period)
• tri-rātram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu-samāsa; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (duration)

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Dhātu: √as (अस् ‘to be’); Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• eka-rātram: one night (period)
• eka-rātram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu-samāsa; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (duration)

• krameṇa: in order/gradually
• krameṇa: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; used adverbially (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphasis/indeed)

• vaiśya-kṣatriya-viprāṇām: of the Vaiśyas, Kṣatriyas, and Brāhmaṇas
• vaiśya-kṣatriya-viprāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/For/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक) + vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-samāsa (द्वन्द्व, itaretara): vaiśyāś ca kṣatriyāś ca viprāś ca; Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• śūdreṣu: among/with respect to Śūdras
• śūdreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context ‘in case of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī-vibhakti (Locative), Bahuvacana

• āśaucam: impurity (mourning period)
• āśaucam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (predicate-noun: ‘the impurity period’)

• eva: only/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; avadhāraṇa particle (restriction/only)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching in context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ashauca
• Varna (Varnashrama Dharma)
• Vipra (Brahmana)
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a dharma-śāstra injunction on āśauca durations by varṇa; it does not directly teach ātman-metaphysics, but it supports the Purāṇic aim of inner purity through regulated conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga practice is taught here; the emphasis is on śauca/āśauca discipline, which functions as an ethical-ritual foundation that complements later Kurma Purana teachings on devotion and yogic restraint.

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

This verse does not explicitly discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it belongs to the dharma section. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such dharma regulations are framed as supportive of devotion to the one Supreme (Hari-Hara) taught elsewhere.