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Shloka 108

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

ब्रह्मघ्नं वा कृतघ्नं वा महापातकदूषितम् / भर्तारमुद्धरेन्नारी प्रविष्टा सह पावकम्

brahmaghnaṃ vā kṛtaghnaṃ vā mahāpātakadūṣitam / bhartāramuddharennārī praviṣṭā saha pāvakam

ब्रह्मघ्नं वा कृतघ्नं वा महापातकदूषितम्; भर्तारमुद्धरेन्नारी प्रविष्टा सह पावकम्।

brahmaghnama slayer of a brāhmaṇa
brahmaghnam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahma-ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; तत्पुरुष (brahma + ghna = ‘slayer of a brāhmaṇa’)
or
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)
kṛtaghnaman ungrateful person
kṛtaghnam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkṛta-ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म; तत्पुरुष (kṛta + ghna = ‘one who kills/denies a benefactor’; ‘ungrateful’)
or
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात
mahāpātakadūṣitamtainted by great sins
mahāpātakadūṣitam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahā-pātaka-dūṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to bhartāram); तत्पुरुष (mahā+pātaka) + तत्पुरुष (… + dūṣita)
bhartāramhusband
bhartāram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म
uddharetshould rescue
uddharet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootud-√hṛ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should rescue’
nārīa woman
nārī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnārī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता
praviṣṭāhaving entered
praviṣṭā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√viś (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण: ‘having entered’
sahatogether with
saha:
Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsaha (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; सहार्थक उपसर्ग/निपात (preposition-like indeclinable) governing instrumental sense ‘with’
pāvakamfire
pāvakam:
Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
TypeNoun
Rootpāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सह-सम्बन्धे (object of ‘with’ notion)

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s teaching on dharma to the sages)

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: raudra

A
Agni (Pāvaka)
B
Brahmahatyā (brahma-ghna as a sin category)

FAQs

This verse is primarily dharma-centered rather than metaphysical; it implies that even grave moral impurity can be overcome through powerful dharmic agency (pativratā-bhāva and purifying rites), which in the Purāṇic worldview ultimately supports the soul’s purification and higher realization.

No explicit yoga technique is taught here; the emphasis is on dharma and expiation (prāyaścitta) through Agni as purifier, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s broader framework where disciplined conduct (ācāra) is a foundation that supports later spiritual practice, including teachings associated with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and restraint.

This specific verse does not directly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative ethos by presenting dharma and purification as universally efficacious principles upheld across sectarian lines, a backdrop against which Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis is later articulated.