Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3
Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage
Yātrā-vidhi
नरके वसते घोरे समाः कल्पशतायुतम् / ततो निवर्तते घोरो गवां क्रोधो हि दारुणः / सलिलं च न गृह्णन्ति पितरस्तस्य देहिनः
narake vasate ghore samāḥ kalpaśatāyutam / tato nivartate ghoro gavāṃ krodho hi dāruṇaḥ / salilaṃ ca na gṛhṇanti pitarastasya dehinaḥ
Nanahan siya sa kakila-kilabot na impiyerno sa loob ng sandaang milyong siklo ng panahon. Kahit matapos iyon, hindi pa rin humuhupa ang mabagsik na poot ng mga baka; at ang mga ninuno (pitṛ) ng taong may katawan na iyon ay hindi tumatanggap kahit ng handog na tubig na tarpana mula sa kanya.
Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages on dharma and karmaphala (contextual attribution within Purva-bhaga teaching narrative)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
Indirectly: it emphasizes karmic accountability at the level of the embodied agent (dehin). The Atman is not described here; rather, the verse stresses that unethical action binds the jīva to severe consequences until purification and right conduct are restored.
No specific yogic technique is taught in this verse. Its practical discipline is dharmic restraint—especially ahiṃsā and go-rakṣā—along with purity in pitṛ-kriyā (tarpana), implying that spiritual practice must be grounded in ethical conduct.
It does not explicitly mention Shiva-Vishnu unity. Consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, the ethical law (dharma) taught here is presented as universally binding, aligning Vaishnava instruction with the broader Shaiva-Pāśupata emphasis on conduct and purification.