Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

महापातकिसंस्पर्शे भुङ्क्ते ऽस्नात्वा द्विजो यदि / बुद्धिपूर्वं तु मूढात्मा तप्तकृच्छ्रं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

mahāpātakisaṃsparśe bhuṅkte 'snātvā dvijo yadi / buddhipūrvaṃ tu mūḍhātmā taptakṛcchraṃ samācaret

Translation

Kung ang isang dvija ay kumain nang hindi naliligo matapos makasalamuha ang gumawa ng dakilang kasalanan (mahāpātaka), kung ginawa niya ito nang may kamalayan bagaman naliligaw ang isip, dapat niyang isagawa ang penitensiyang tinatawag na Taptakṛcchra.

Word by Word

• महापातकि-संस्पर्शे: upon contact with a great sinner
• महापातकि-संस्पर्शे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापातकि (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महापातकिनः संस्पर्शे) — Locative: 'in/at contact with a great sinner'

• भुङ्क्ते: eats
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'eats/partakes'

• अस्नात्वा: without bathing
• अस्नात्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त्वान्त अव्यय (negative gerund): 'without bathing'

• द्विजः: a twice-born
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Subject

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional) — 'if'

• बुद्धि-पूर्वम्: deliberately
• बुद्धि-पूर्वम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): 'intentionally/with prior awareness'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधबोधक अव्यय (particle)

• मूढ-आत्मा: a deluded person
• मूढ-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — 'one whose self is deluded'

• तप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: the taptakṛcchra penance
• तप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (तप्-धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — 'heated/severe kṛcchra penance' (name of expiation)

• समाचरेत्: should undertake
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'should duly perform'

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (instructional dharma discourse within the Kurma Purana’s prāyaścitta section; commonly framed as sages transmitting dharma-teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Mahāpātakin
• Taptakṛcchra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is not an Ātman-metaphysics passage; it teaches dharma through prāyaścitta—purifying conduct and intention—so that the seeker’s life becomes fit for higher knowledge and devotion taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No meditative technique is specified; the practice emphasized is tapas as disciplined atonement (Taptakṛcchra), a form of self-regulation that supports purity (śauca) and steadiness—foundational virtues for later Yoga and devotion-oriented instruction in the text.

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

It does not directly discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; it reflects the shared Purāṇic dharma framework where purity, repentance, and tapas are upheld across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava traditions as prerequisites for spiritual progress.