Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

वार्ताकं भुस्तृणं शिग्रुं खुखुण्डं करकं तथा / प्राजापत्यं चरेज्जग्ध्वा शङ्खं कुम्भीकमेव च

Transliteration

vārtākaṃ bhustṛṇaṃ śigruṃ khukhuṇḍaṃ karakaṃ tathā / prājāpatyaṃ carejjagdhvā śaṅkhaṃ kumbhīkameva ca

Translation

கத்தரிக்காய், புஸ்த்ருணப் புல், சிக்ரு (முருங்கை), குகுண்ட, கரக, மேலும் சங்கம், கும்பீக எனும் சில கீரைகள்/காய்கள் உண்டால், பிராஜாபத்யப் பரிகாரம் செய்ய வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• वार्ताकम्: eggplant
• वार्ताकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ताक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुस्तृणम्: a kind of herb/grass (bhustṛṇa)
• भुस्तृणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुस्तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिग्रुम्: moringa (śigru)
• शिग्रुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिग्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• खुखुण्डम्: a kind of gourd/vegetable (khukhuṇḍa)
• खुखुण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खुखुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करकम्: a kind of vegetable (karaka)
• करकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक

• प्राजापत्यम्: the Prājāpatya (penance)
• प्राजापत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्रतनाम/प्रायश्चित्तविशेष

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जग्ध्वा: having eaten
• जग्ध्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्/जघ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त, ‘having eaten’

• शङ्खम्: conch (shellfish)
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुम्भीकम्: a kind of aquatic creature (kumbhīka)
• कुम्भीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

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

Speaker

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma material as transmitted by sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Prājāpatya-vrata

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead, it supports the broader Purāṇic framework where bodily discipline (āhāra-śuddhi and prāyaścitta) is treated as a preparatory ground for inner purity that enables higher knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation is taught in this verse; it emphasizes śauca and restraint through expiation (Prājāpatya), which functions as a dharmic foundation that later supports yogic steadiness and sattva in practice.

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

The verse is procedural (dietary expiation) and does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; in the Kurma Purāṇa’s synthesis, such dharma-rules are shared norms that undergird both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths toward purification and liberation.