Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

एकाहेन विवाहाग्निं परिहार्य द्विजोत्तमः / त्रिरात्रेण विशद्ध्येत त्रिरात्रात् षडहं पुनः

Transliteration

ekāhena vivāhāgniṃ parihārya dvijottamaḥ / trirātreṇa viśaddhyeta trirātrāt ṣaḍahaṃ punaḥ

Translation

ਹੇ ਦ੍ਵਿਜੋਤ੍ਤਮ! ਜੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਥ ਦਾ ਵਿਵਾਹ-ਅਗਨੀ ਇੱਕ ਦਿਨ ਲਈ ਪਰਿਹਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਤਿੰਨ ਰਾਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ੁੱਧੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਤਿੰਨ ਰਾਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਫਿਰ ਛੇ ਦਿਨ (ਸੰਯਮ/ਸ਼ੌਚ) ਦਾ ਆਚਰਨ ਕਰੇ।

Word by Word

• एकाहेन: by one day
• एकाहेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (एकः अहः), पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• विवाह-अग्निम्: the wedding fire
• विवाह-अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विवाहस्य अग्निः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• परिहार्य: having avoided
• परिहार्य: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-हृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having avoided/kept away’

• द्विज-उत्तमः: the best of the twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विज-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (उत्तमः द्विजः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिरात्रेण: by three nights
• त्रिरात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रयः रात्रयः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशद्ध्येत: should become purified
• विशद्ध्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग

• त्रिरात्रात्: from (after) three nights
• त्रिरात्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• षडहम्: six days (period)
• षडहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षडह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (षट् अहानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (कालपरिमाण)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थे

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Purāṇic discourse) instructing on varṇāśrama-dharma observances; presented within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching frame associated with Lord Kūrma’s instruction to sages.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Vivāhāgni

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined purification (śauca) as a prerequisite for Vedic rites and inner clarity, which the Kurma Purana treats as supportive to realizing the Self through steady dharma and yogic restraint.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a direct yoga technique, but a dharmic discipline: regulated observance of time-bound restraint and ritual cleanliness. In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such niyama-like practices prepare the practitioner for mantra, worship, and higher yogic contemplation.

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

The verse is primarily dharma-ritual instruction rather than theology; however, it fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where shared dharma (śauca, restraint, right conduct) undergirds both Shaiva and Vaishnava modes of worship and yogic pursuit.