Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

न नखैर्विलिखेद् भूमिं गां च संवेशयेन्न हि / न नदीषु नदीं ब्रूयात् पर्वतेषु च पर्वतान्

Transliteration

na nakhairvilikhed bhūmiṃ gāṃ ca saṃveśayenna hi / na nadīṣu nadīṃ brūyāt parvateṣu ca parvatān

Translation

อย่าขีดข่วนแผ่นดินด้วยเล็บ และอย่ากักขังผูกมัดโคด้วยกำลัง เมื่ออยู่ในสายน้ำอย่าเอ่ยนามแม่น้ำ และเมื่ออยู่ท่ามกลางภูผาอย่าเอ่ยถึงภูเขาเหล่านั้น।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• nakhaiḥ: with nails
• nakhaiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Tritiya Vibhakti (Instrumental), Bahuvachana (Plural)

• vilikhet: should scratch/draw
• vilikhet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-likh (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Ekavachana (Singular)

• bhūmim: ground/earth
• bhūmim: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dvitiya Vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavachana (Singular)

• gām: cow
• gām: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dvitiya Vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavachana (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• saṃveśayet: should cause to lie down/enter
• saṃveśayet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-viś (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Causal, Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Ekavachana (Singular)

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• hi: indeed
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/Reason)

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• nadīṣu: in rivers
• nadīṣu: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Saptami Vibhakti (Locative), Bahuvachana (Plural)

• nadīm: river (name)
• nadīm: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dvitiya Vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavachana (Singular)

• brūyāt: should speak/name
• brūyāt: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Ekavachana (Singular)

• parvateṣu: on mountains
• parvateṣu: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Saptami Vibhakti (Locative), Bahuvachana (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• parvatān: mountains (names)
• parvatān: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dvitiya Vibhakti (Accusative), Bahuvachana (Plural)

Speaker

Traditional dharma-instruction voice in the Kurma Purana (ācāra-śikṣā within the Purva-bhāga narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Bhūmi (Earth)
• Gauḥ (Cow)
• Nadī (River)
• Parvata (Mountain)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing reverent restraint toward earth, cow, rivers, and mountains, it trains the mind in sacred regard for the manifested world—supporting purity (śauca) and non-injury (ahiṃsā), which are preparatory disciplines for realizing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It reflects niyama-like disciplines—reverence, restraint, and purity—especially tirtha-maryādā (pilgrimage etiquette). Such conduct stabilizes the senses and reduces rajas/tamas, supporting contemplative practice aligned with Kurma Purana’s broader Yoga-shāstra orientation.

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

Not explicitly; it presents shared dharma foundations honored across Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis in the Kurma Purana—ethical restraint and sanctity toward beings and places, which both traditions treat as prerequisites for higher realization.