Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 142

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

Devanagari script

एतते पतिव्रतानां वैं माहात्म्यं कथितं मया / स्त्रीणां सर्वाघशमनं प्रायश्चित्तमिदं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

etate pativratānāṃ vaiṃ māhātmyaṃ kathitaṃ mayā / strīṇāṃ sarvāghaśamanaṃ prāyaścittamidaṃ smṛtam

Translation

Kaya nito, ipinahayag ko ang kadakilaan ng mga pativratā, ang mga babaeng tapat sa kanilang asawa. Ito’y inaalala bilang isang paraan ng pagtubos para sa kababaihan, na nagpapatahimik at nag-aalis ng bawat kasalanan.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; संदर्भसूचक (deictic)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’ (enclitic)

• पतिव्रतानाम्: of devoted wives (pativratās)
• पतिव्रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति + व्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: पतिं व्रतं यस्याः/यासां (devoted-to-husband)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness; glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• सर्वाघशमनम्: removal of all sins
• सर्वाघशमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अघ + शमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषाम् अघानां शमनम् (removal of all sins)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages (frame narration of the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pativrata-dharma
• Prayaschitta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma- and prayāścitta-focused: it presents pativratā-dharma as a purifying discipline rather than offering a direct metaphysical teaching about Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this line; instead, it frames ethical vow-based discipline (vrata) as a purificatory practice that functions like spiritual atonement (prāyaścitta).

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; however, its emphasis on dharma and purification aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where devotion and disciplined conduct support liberation-oriented teachings found elsewhere (e.g., Ishvara Gita, Pashupata-oriented sections).