Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

व्रात्यानां यजनं कृत्वा परेषामन्त्यकर्म च / अभिचारमहीनं च त्रिभिः कृच्छ्रैर्विशुद्ध्यति

Transliteration

vrātyānāṃ yajanaṃ kṛtvā pareṣāmantyakarma ca / abhicāramahīnaṃ ca tribhiḥ kṛcchrairviśuddhyati

Translation

ବ୍ରାତ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରି, ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କର ଅନ୍ତ୍ୟକର୍ମ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରି, ଅଭିଚାର (ହାନିକର ତନ୍ତ୍ର) କରିଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ—ତିନି କୃଚ୍ଛ୍ର ବ୍ରତରେ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• व्रात्यानाम्: of vrātyas (outcast/irregulars)
• व्रात्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• यजनम्: sacrificing/officiating (for them)
• यजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातु: कृ

• परेषाम्: of others
• परेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• अन्त्यकर्म: funeral/last rites
• अन्त्यकर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यकर्म (प्रातिपदिक) = अन्त्य + कर्म
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (अन्त्यं कर्म = last rites)

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

• अभिचारमहीनम्: (one) fallen into sorcery/black magic
• अभिचारमहीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिचार + महीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (अभिचारः महीनः/अभिचारे महीनम् = fallen into sorcery/black magic)

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

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Karaṇa (करण; means/number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• कृच्छ्रैः: kṛcchra penances
• कृच्छ्रैः: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• विशुद्ध्यति: becomes purified
• विशुद्ध्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/śaunaka-style transmission) presenting dharma-śāstric prāyaścitta rules within the Kurma Purana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Vrātya
• Antyeṣṭi (funeral rites)
• Abhicāra
• Kṛcchra (penance)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-śāstric: it treats karmic impurity and ritual transgression, implying that inner and outer purification are prerequisites for steady sāttvika conduct that supports Self-knowledge, rather than directly defining Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yogic technique is taught here; instead, it prescribes kṛcchra austerities as prāyaścitta—discipline of food, conduct, and restraint—which in the Kurma Purana’s broader framework functions as ethical purification supportive of higher sādhana (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation).

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

The verse does not explicitly discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it operates within a shared dharma framework accepted across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava traditions in the Kurma Purana, where purification and right conduct are common foundations for devotion to Īśvara.