Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 42
Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence
षड्रात्रं वा त्रिरात्रं स्यादेकरात्रं क्रमेण हि / वैश्यक्षत्रियविप्राणां शूद्रेष्वाशौचमेव तु
ṣaḍrātraṃ vā trirātraṃ syādekarātraṃ krameṇa hi / vaiśyakṣatriyaviprāṇāṃ śūdreṣvāśaucameva tu
வரிசையாக வைசியருக்கு ஆறு இரவுகள், க்ஷத்திரியருக்கு மூன்று இரவுகள், விப்ரர் (பிராமணர்)க்கு ஒரு இரவு அசௌசக் காலம் கூறப்படுகிறது; ஆனால் சூத்ரருக்கு அசௌசம் மட்டும் (குறைந்த விதியுடன்) எனக் கொள்ளப்படுகிறது।
Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching in context
Primary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse is primarily a dharma-śāstra injunction on āśauca durations by varṇa; it does not directly teach ātman-metaphysics, but it supports the Purāṇic aim of inner purity through regulated conduct.
No specific yoga practice is taught here; the emphasis is on śauca/āśauca discipline, which functions as an ethical-ritual foundation that complements later Kurma Purana teachings on devotion and yogic restraint.
This verse does not explicitly discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it belongs to the dharma section. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such dharma regulations are framed as supportive of devotion to the one Supreme (Hari-Hara) taught elsewhere.