Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 51

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

अनाथं चैव निर्हृत्य ब्राह्मणं धनवर्जितम् / स्नात्वा संप्राश्य तु घृतं शुध्यन्ति ब्राह्मणादयः

Transliteration

anāthaṃ caiva nirhṛtya brāhmaṇaṃ dhanavarjitam / snātvā saṃprāśya tu ghṛtaṃ śudhyanti brāhmaṇādayaḥ

Translation

செல்வமற்ற ஆதரவற்ற பிராமணனை காப்பாற்றி/ஆதரித்து, நீராடி, பின்னர் நெய் பிராசனம் செய்தால் பிராமணர் முதலிய இருமுறை பிறந்தோர் சுத்தி அடைவார்கள்.

Word by Word

• अनाथम्: helpless, without protector
• अनाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• निर्हृत्य: having removed/taken away
• निर्हृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्ग: नि; अर्थ: ‘having taken away/removed’

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धनवर्जितम्: deprived of wealth
• धनवर्जितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धन-रहित’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुषभावः; विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणम्)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थ: ‘having bathed’

• संप्राश्य: having eaten/tasted
• संप्राश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-अश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), उपसर्ग: सम्, प्र; अर्थ: ‘having eaten/tasted’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुध्यन्ति: they become purified
• शुध्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-रूप: परस्मैपद (शुध्यन्ति)

• ब्राह्मणादयः: Brahmins and others
• ब्राह्मणादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘ब्राह्मण-आदि’ इति तत्पुरुष (समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching in a prāyaścitta context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Ghṛta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes inner and outer purification through compassion and regulated conduct, which in the Purāṇic framework prepares the mind for Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) and devotion to Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not formal meditation; it highlights preparatory disciplines (śauca and niyama-like restraints): charity toward the distressed, ritual bathing (snāna), and sanctified intake (ghṛta-prāśana) as mind-purifying supports that traditionally precede higher yogic practice.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it reflects the shared Purāṇic synthesis where dharma (compassionate support and purity) is a common foundation for devotion to the one Supreme Lord revered in both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams.