Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 12

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

कपोतं टिट्टिभं चैव शुकं सारसमेव च / उलूकं जालपादं च जग्ध्वाप्येतद् व्रतं चरेत्

Transliteration

kapotaṃ ṭiṭṭibhaṃ caiva śukaṃ sārasameva ca / ulūkaṃ jālapādaṃ ca jagdhvāpyetad vrataṃ caret

Translation

କପୋତ, ଟିଟ୍ଟିଭ, ଶୁକ (ତୋତା), ସାରସ, ଉଲୁକ (ପେଚା) କିମ୍ବା ଜାଲପାଦ (ଜଳପକ୍ଷୀ) ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରି ପରେ, ଏହି ପ୍ରାୟଶ୍ଚିତ୍ତ-ବ୍ରତ ଆଚରଣ କରୁ।

Word by Word

• कपोतम्: pigeon
• कपोतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• टिट्टिभम्: ṭiṭṭibha bird (lapwing)
• टिट्टिभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: टिट्टिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• शुकम्: parrot
• शुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सारसम्: crane (sārasa)
• सारसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• उलूकम्: owl
• उलूकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जालपादम्: jālapāda (web-footed bird)
• जालपादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-सम्भाव्य: ‘net-footed’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• जग्ध्वा: having eaten
• जग्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्/ग्रस (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त, ‘having eaten’

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरेत्: should practise
• चरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting traditional dharma-vidhi taught in the Purāṇic discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vrata
• Prāyaścitta
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it frames spiritual life through niyama—purificatory discipline—by prescribing a vow (vrata) as expiation, which supports inner purity needed for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ethical-ritual discipline (vrata/prāyaścitta), aligning with Yoga’s preparatory restraints (niyama) that purify conduct and stabilize the mind for higher practice.

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

The verse is primarily dharma-oriented and non-sectarian; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis by treating vow-based purification as a shared foundation for both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava sādhanā.