Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

डिम्बाहवहतानां च विद्युता पार्थिवैर्द्विजैः / सद्यः शौचं समाख्यातं सर्पादिमरणे तथा

Transliteration

ḍimbāhavahatānāṃ ca vidyutā pārthivairdvijaiḥ / sadyaḥ śaucaṃ samākhyātaṃ sarpādimaraṇe tathā

Translation

ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ହତ, ଅଲ୍ପାୟୁ ଶିଶୁ (ଡିମ୍ବ), ବିଦ୍ୟୁତାଘାତରେ ମୃତ, ଏବଂ ରାଜାଦ୍ୱାରା ହତ ଦ୍ୱିଜ—ଏମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ‘ସଦ୍ୟଃ-ଶୌଚ’ କୁହାଯାଇଛି; ସର୍ପ ଆଦି କାରଣରେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେହି ତତ୍କ୍ଷଣାତ୍ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• डिम्बाहवहतानाम्: of infants killed in battle
• डिम्बाहवहतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डिम्ब + आहव + हत (प्रातिपदिक; हन्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषसमासः (आहवे हताः डिम्बाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• विद्युता: by lightning
• विद्युता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• पार्थिवैः: by kings; by earthly rulers
• पार्थिवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• द्विजैः: by twice-born (Brāhmaṇas etc.)
• द्विजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• शौचम्: purification
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समाख्यातम्: is declared
• समाख्यातम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्पादिमरणे: in death caused by snakes etc.
• सर्पादिमरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + आदि + मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्पादिभिः मरणम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the dharma teaching of the sages in the Kurma Purana context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmin)
• Pārthiva (king/ruler)
• Vidyut (lightning)
• Sarpa (snake)
• Āhava (battle)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a dharma-śāstra rule on ashauca and immediate purification; indirectly, it supports the Purana’s spiritual discipline by emphasizing external purity as an aid to inner steadiness (ātma-niṣṭhā), rather than defining Atman directly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught here; the verse highlights śauca (purity), a foundational discipline that supports mantra-japa, pūjā, and meditative practice by removing ritual impediments after certain kinds of death.

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

The verse does not directly discuss Shiva–Vishnu unity; it belongs to the Kurma Purana’s dharma framework that undergirds both Shaiva and Vaishnava practice, where shared disciplines like śauca support worship and yoga across traditions.