Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

नोदके चात्मनो रूपं न कूलं श्वभ्रमेव वा / न लङ्घयेच्च मूत्रं वा नाधितिष्ठेत् कदाचन

Transliteration

nodake cātmano rūpaṃ na kūlaṃ śvabhrameva vā / na laṅghayecca mūtraṃ vā nādhitiṣṭhet kadācana

Translation

నీటిలో తన రూపాన్ని (ప్రతిబింబాన్ని) చూడకూడదు; నది ఒడ్డుపై గానీ గోతు అంచుపై గానీ అడుగు పెట్టి దాటకూడదు. మూత్రంపై దూకకూడదు; ఎప్పుడూ దానిపై నిలబడకూడదు.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• उदके: in water
• उदके: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• रूपम्: form/reflection
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• कूलम्: bank/shore
• कूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• श्वभ्रम्: pit/hole
• श्वभ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle ‘indeed/just’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• लङ्घयेत्: should step over
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘should not step over/jump over’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• मूत्रम्: urine
• मूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अधितिष्ठेत्: should stand upon
• अधितिष्ठेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘should not stand upon/step on’

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb ‘ever/at any time’)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and purity (ācāra) norms

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Śauca
• Varnāśrama

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames self-discipline (śauca and ācāra) as a prerequisite for inner clarity: restraining careless behavior in impure contexts supports steadiness of mind, which is foundational for realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes ethical-preparatory discipline—cleanliness and careful bodily conduct—akin to yama/niyama-style restraints that stabilize the practitioner before higher practices like mantra, meditation, and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.

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

By presenting a shared dharmic-ascetic code (śauca/ācāra) taught by Lord Kūrma, the text supports the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same purity and restraint undergird devotion and yoga across both traditions.