Shloka 26

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

समभ्यर्च्य महादेवं तत्र भैरवरूपिणम् / तर्पपित्वा पितॄन् स्नात्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

Transliteration

samabhyarcya mahādevaṃ tatra bhairavarūpiṇam / tarpapitvā pitṝn snātvā mucyate brahmahatyayā

Translation

Tendo adorado devidamente Mahādeva ali, em Sua forma de Bhairava, e tendo oferecido as libações (tarpana) aos Pitṛs e depois se banhado, a pessoa é libertada do pecado de brahma-hatyā (matar um brāhmaṇa).

Word by Word

• सम्-अभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्-अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्गयुक्त धातु; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• भैरव-रूपिणम्: having the form of Bhairava
• भैरव-रूपिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण, महादेवम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• तर्पयित्वा: having satisfied (offered libations to)
• तर्पयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्पय् (तृप्-णिच्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन

• पितṝन्: the ancestors
• पितṝन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मपद

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); क्रियाविशेषणभावेन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-हत्यया: from (the sin of) brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्म-हत्यया: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (by/through/from)

Speaker

Narratorial instruction within a tīrtha-māhātmya style passage (Kurma Purana’s voice, traditionally via the Sūta/Vyāsa transmission)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Bhairava
• Pitrs
• Brahmahatya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents liberation from heavy sin through devotion and purification centered on Mahādeva, implying that grace and inner purification—aligned with dharma—remove the coverings that obstruct realization.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ritual-yoga supports common to Purāṇic discipline—īśvara-pūjā (worship of the Lord), pitṛ-tarpaṇa (ancestral libations), and snāna (sacred bathing)—as preparatory purifications that steady the practitioner for higher Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

By placing salvific power in worship of Śiva (Bhairava) within the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, it reflects the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the Supreme is approached through complementary forms and disciplines rather than sectarian opposition.