Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णाष्टम्यां महादेवं तथा कृष्णचतुर्दशीम् / संपूज्य ब्राह्मणमुखे सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṃ mahādevaṃ tathā kṛṣṇacaturdaśīm / saṃpūjya brāhmaṇamukhe sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

کرشن آٹھمی اور کرشن چتُردشی کو مہادیو کی باقاعدہ پوجا کرکے، اور برہمن کے مُنہ سے (یعنی برہمن کو معزز مستحق بنا کر) وہ پوجا نذر کرنے سے آدمی تمام گناہوں سے آزاد ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कृष्ण-अष्टम्याम्: on the dark-fortnight eighth (Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī)
• कृष्ण-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णपक्षस्य अष्टम्याम्)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (also/likewise)

• कृष्ण-चतुर्दशीम्: the dark-fortnight fourteenth (Kṛṣṇacaturdaśī)
• कृष्ण-चतुर्दशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णपक्षस्य चतुर्दशीम्)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; अर्थः—having worshipped

• ब्राह्मण-मुखे: in/at the mouth (presence) of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मण-मुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्राह्मणस्य मुखे)

• सर्व-पापैः: from all sins
• सर्व-पापैः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘from all sins’ अर्थे अपादान-भावः

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and vrata practice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Brahmana
• Krishna Ashtami
• Krishna Chaturdashi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames purification and liberation in devotional-dharmic terms: honoring Mahādeva on prescribed tithis and serving brāhmaṇas purifies the practitioner, preparing the mind for Self-knowledge rather than defining Ātman directly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga in a Purāṇic mode—disciplined observance (vrata), focused worship (pūjā), and brāhmaṇa-sevā/annadāna as purifying auxiliaries that support steadiness (śuddhi) necessary for higher yoga.

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

With Lord Kūrma teaching Śiva-worship as a valid path to purification, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony: devotion to Mahādeva is integrated within a Vishnu-taught dharma framework.