Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

देवर्षोणामभिमुखं ष्ठीवनाक्रोशने कृते / उल्मुकेन दहेज्जिह्वां दातव्यं च हिरण्यकम्

Transliteration

devarṣoṇāmabhimukhaṃ ṣṭhīvanākrośane kṛte / ulmukena dahejjihvāṃ dātavyaṃ ca hiraṇyakam

Translation

தேவரிஷிகளின் முன்னிலையில் துப்பியோ அல்லது அவமதித்தோ இருந்தால், தீக்குச்சியால் நாவைத் தழுவி எரிப்பது (சின்னமாக) பிராயச்சித்தம் செய்து, மேலும் பொன் தானமும் அளிக்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• देवर्षीणाम्: of the divine sages
• देवर्षीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (देव-ऋषि); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• अभिमुखम्: facing towards
• अभिमुखम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (अभि- ‘towards’ + मुख ‘face’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial sense ‘facing/towards’

• ष्ठीवनाक्रोशने: in (the acts of) spitting and abusing
• ष्ठीवनाक्रोशने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ष्ठीवन + आक्रोशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; ‘in spitting and abusing’

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: Kāla/Hetu-adhikaraṇa (काल/हेत्वधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used in लोके सप्तमी/सति-सप्तमी; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘when done/if done’

• उल्मुकेन: with a firebrand
• उल्मुकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन

• दहेत्: should burn
• दहेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; in text as दहेज् (sandhi before jihvām)

• जिह्वाम्: the tongue
• जिह्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दातव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; impersonal obligation ‘it should be given’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हिरण्यकम्: gold (a piece)
• हिरण्यकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘a piece of gold’

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) relating dharma-prāyaścitta teachings as taught in the Purāṇic discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Devarṣi
• Hiraṇya (gold)
• Prāyaścitta (atonement)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing restraint and expiation for harmful speech, it supports the Purāṇic view that inner purity (śuddhi) and self-control are prerequisites for realizing the Atman and approaching the Divine through disciplined conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes ethical discipline—control of speech and reverence toward sages—functioning like foundational restraints (yama/niyama-style) that support higher practices such as mantra, meditation, and Pāśupata-oriented devotion taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

Not explicitly; yet its dharma-prāyaścitta framework reflects the Kurma Purana’s unified approach where both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths rest on the same moral foundations—purity, humility, and reverence for enlightened seers.