Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 37

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

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

मयूरं तित्तिरं चैव कपोतं च कपिञ्जलम् / वाध्रीणसं बकं भक्ष्यं मीनहंसपराजिताः

Transliteration

mayūraṃ tittiraṃ caiva kapotaṃ ca kapiñjalam / vādhrīṇasaṃ bakaṃ bhakṣyaṃ mīnahaṃsaparājitāḥ

Translation

Công, gà gô, bồ câu và gà rừng (francolin) là những loài có thể dùng làm thực phẩm; cũng vậy, vādhrīṇasa và chim hạc đều được phép ăn—(những loài chim ấy) được nói là “bị cá và thiên nga chế ngự”.

Word by Word

• मयूरम्: peacock
• मयूरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तित्तिरम्: partridge
• तित्तिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तित्तिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कपोतम्: pigeon
• कपोतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• कपिञ्जलम्: francolin/partridge (kapiñjala)
• कपिञ्जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिञ्जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाध्रीणसम्: vādhrīṇasa (a kind of bird)
• वाध्रीणसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाध्रीणस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बकम्: crane/heron
• बकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भक्ष्यम्: edible/allowed to be eaten
• भक्ष्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (edible/allowed)

• मीन-हंस-पराजिताः: defeated by fish and geese
• मीन-हंस-पराजिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक) + हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + पराजित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘मीनहंसाभ्यां पराजिताः’ (defeated by fish and geese)

Speaker

Vyasa (narratorial dharma-instruction within the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Dharma
• Āhāra (dietary discipline)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames self-mastery through regulated conduct (āhāra-niyama). In the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such discipline supports clarity (sattva) that aids contemplation of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes āhāra-niyama (dietary restraint), a practical support for Yoga. In the Kurma Purana’s wider yogic ethic (often linked with Pāśupata-style discipline), controlled intake is treated as foundational for steadiness of mind and purity.

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

Not explicitly; it operates at the level of shared dharmic discipline. The Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis commonly presents such ethical restraints as universally valid supports for devotion and yogic realization, regardless of whether one approaches through Shiva or Vishnu.