Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

नास्तिक्यं यदि कुर्वोत प्राजापत्यं चरेद् द्विजः / देवद्रोहं गुरुद्रोहं तप्तकृच्छ्रेण शुद्ध्यति

Transliteration

nāstikyaṃ yadi kurvota prājāpatyaṃ cared dvijaḥ / devadrohaṃ gurudrohaṃ taptakṛcchreṇa śuddhyati

Translation

Kung ang isang dalawang-ulit-na-ipinanganak ay gumawa ng nāstikya (kawalan ng pananampalataya), dapat niyang isagawa ang Prājāpatya na penitensiya. Sa paglapastangan sa mga diyos at sa sariling guro, nalilinis siya sa pamamagitan ng Taptakṛcchra na mahigpit na pag-aayuno at pagtitika.

Word by Word

• नास्तिक्यम्: atheism/denial
• नास्तिक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• कुर्वीत: should do/commit
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should do/commit)

• प्राजापत्यम्: the Prājāpatya penance
• प्राजापत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजः: a twice-born man
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• देवद्रोहम्: treachery against a deity
• देवद्रोहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक; देव + द्रोह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular)

• गुरुद्रोहम्: treachery against the teacher
• गुरुद्रोहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक; गुरु + द्रोह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular)

• तप्तकृच्छ्रेण: by the Tapta-Kṛcchra penance
• तप्तकृच्छ्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त-कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक; तप्त + कृच्छ्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, instrumental singular)

• शुद्ध्यति: is purified
• शुद्ध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Traditional purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa) presenting dharma-śāstric prāyaścitta rules within the Kurma Purana’s discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati (implied by Prājāpatya)
• Devas (gods)
• Guru (spiritual teacher)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification (śuddhi) as essential for dharmic and yogic fitness—ethical and ritual atonement prepares the mind for higher knowledge of Ātman taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a meditation technique, but a prerequisite discipline: tapas and prāyaścitta (Prājāpatya, Taptakṛcchra) function as purificatory austerities that steady conduct and support later yoga—especially the Kurma Purana’s emphasis on self-restraint and inner purity.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrative dharma framework where devotion, reverence to devas, and guru-sevā are shared foundations for both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths, including Pāśupata-oriented discipline.