Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

अलाबुं किंशुकं चैव भुक्त्वा चैतद् व्रतं चरेत् / उदुम्बरं च कामेन तप्तकृच्छ्रेण शुद्ध्यति

Transliteration

alābuṃ kiṃśukaṃ caiva bhuktvā caitad vrataṃ caret / udumbaraṃ ca kāmena taptakṛcchreṇa śuddhyati

Translation

Sau khi ăn bầu (alābu) và hoa kiṃśuka (palāśa), người ấy nên giữ giới nguyện này. Nhưng nếu vì dục vọng mà ăn udumbara (sung chùm), thì được thanh tịnh nhờ khổ hạnh gọi là Taptakṛcchra.

Word by Word

• अलाबुम्: bottle-gourd
• अलाबुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाबु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• किंशुकम्: kiṃśuka tree/flower
• किंशुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

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

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (vrataṃ)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• उदुम्बरम्: udumbara (fig)
• उदुम्बरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदुम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• कामेन: by desire/optionally
• कामेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; अर्थे—इच्छया (by choice/at will)

• तप्तकृच्छ्रेण: by the 'taptakṛcchra' penance
• तप्तकृच्छ्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्तकृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक: तप्त + कृच्छ्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; साधन/उपायार्थे (by means of the heated austerity)

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

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Purāṇic dharma/prāyaścitta instructions to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Taptakṛcchra
• Udumbara
• Kiṃśuka
• Vrata

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it teaches the dharmic principle that purity (śuddhi) is restored through disciplined observance (vrata) and corrective austerity (prāyaścitta), which supports inner clarity needed for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory discipline rather than a specific meditation: regulated diet, vow-keeping, and prāyaścitta (Taptakṛcchra) as tapas that steadies the mind—foundational for Yoga-sādhana in the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.

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

Indirectly: the verse emphasizes dharma and purification as shared purāṇic foundations across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams; it fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where ethical-tapas disciplines support devotion and higher realization beyond sectarian divide.