Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Rules of Food, Acceptance, and Purity for the Twice-Born

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

यवागूं मातुलिङ्गं च मत्स्यानप्यनुपाकृतान् / नीपं कपित्थं प्लक्षं च प्रयत्नेन विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

yavāgūṃ mātuliṅgaṃ ca matsyānapyanupākṛtān / nīpaṃ kapitthaṃ plakṣaṃ ca prayatnena vivarjayet

Translation

یَواگُو (پتلا دلیہ/چاول کا شوربہ)، ماتُلِنگ (ترنج) اور اچھی طرح نہ پکی مچھلی؛ نیز نیپ، کپِتھ اور پلکش سے بھی پوری کوشش کے ساتھ پرہیز کرے۔

Word by Word

• यवागूम्: barley gruel
• यवागूम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवागू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मातुलिङ्गम्: citron (mātuliṅga)
• मातुलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• मत्स्यान्: fish
• मत्स्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• अनुपाकृतान्: uncooked/underdone
• अनुपाकृतान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + पाकृत (कृदन्त; √पच्)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; मत्स्यान् इति विशेषणम्

• नीपम्: nīpa tree/flower
• नीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कपित्थम्: wood-apple (kapittha)
• कपित्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपित्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्लक्षम्: plakṣa (a fig tree)
• प्लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort/carefully
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘with effort/carefully’

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narratorial dharma-instruction within the Purva-bhaga (dietary rule section; speaker not explicitly marked in the supplied excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Dharma
• Āhāra-niyama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it supports Self-realization indirectly by prescribing disciplined, purity-oriented conduct (āhāra-niyama) that steadies body and mind for dharma and yoga.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights preparatory discipline rather than a technique: regulating diet by avoiding certain foods—especially improperly cooked items—aligns with sādhaka-style restraint (niyama) that supports meditation and Pashupata-leaning ascetic purity in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.

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

It does not mention Shiva–Vishnu explicitly; its emphasis is shared ethical-yogic discipline, a common ground that the Kurma Purana often uses to harmonize Shaiva and Vaishnava spiritual life through practical dharma.