Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 61

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

न शातयेदिष्टकाभिः फलानि न फलेन च / न म्लेच्छभाषां शिक्षेत नाकर्षेच्च पदासनम्

Transliteration

na śātayediṣṭakābhiḥ phalāni na phalena ca / na mlecchabhāṣāṃ śikṣeta nākarṣecca padāsanam

Translation

Chớ dùng gạch ném làm rụng trái, cũng chớ dùng trái này ném trái kia. Chớ học lời nói của mleccha (thứ tiếng bất tịnh), và chớ kéo lê ghế kê chân hay chỗ ngồi đi khắp nơi.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• śātayet: should crush / should break
• śātayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śātaya (धातु: causative of śat/śad?)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; ‘to cause to break/crush’

• iṣṭakābhiḥ: with bricks
• iṣṭakābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• phalena: with a fruit
• phalena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• mleccha-bhāṣāṃ: barbarous/foreign speech
• mleccha-bhāṣāṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mleccha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mlecchānāṃ bhāṣā)

• śikṣeta: should learn
• śikṣeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śikṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; निषेधेन—‘न ... शिक्षेत’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ākarṣet: should drag / pull
• ākarṣet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; निषेधेन—‘न ... आकर्षेत्’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• pada-āsanam: a footstool / seat for the feet
• pada-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (padasya āsanam)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and sādhaka-ācāra

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Dharma
• Mleccha-bhāṣā

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes outward discipline and purity (ācāra, vāṅ-niyama) as prerequisites for inner clarity, which supports steady contemplation of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s higher instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to preparatory restraints (niyama-like discipline): non-careless behavior, restraint in speech, and orderly conduct—foundational for a sādhaka before deeper practice such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion, japa, and meditation.

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

By focusing on shared dharmic discipline rather than sectarian markers, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach: the same purity and restraint support devotion and realization whether framed through Śaiva or Vaiṣṇava theology.