Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तृणकाष्ठद्रुमाणां च शुष्कान्नस्य गुडस्य च / चैलचर्मामिषाणां च त्रिरात्रं स्यादभोजनम्

Transliteration

tṛṇakāṣṭhadrumāṇāṃ ca śuṣkānnasya guḍasya ca / cailacarmāmiṣāṇāṃ ca trirātraṃ syādabhojanam

Translation

Đối với việc giao dịch hay tiếp xúc sai trái với cỏ, củi và cây; cùng lương thực khô, đường thốt nốt (jaggery); lại thêm vải vóc, da thuộc và thịt—pháp sám hối được dạy là nhịn ăn trong ba đêm.

Word by Word

• तृणकाष्ठद्रुमाणाम्: of grass, wood, and trees
• तृणकाष्ठद्रुमाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण + काष्ठ + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘of grasses, sticks, and trees’ (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

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

• शुष्कान्नस्य: of dry food
• शुष्कान्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्क + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘of dry food’

• गुडस्य: of jaggery
• गुडस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

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

• चैलचर्मामिषाणाम्: of cloth, leather, and meat
• चैलचर्मामिषाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैल + चर्म + आमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘of cloth, leather, and meat’ (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

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

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights
• त्रिरात्रम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘for three nights’ (काल-अवधि)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• अभोजनम्: abstaining from eating (fasting)
• अभोजनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘non-eating/fasting’

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Sūta/Vyāsa line) presenting dharma-śāstra style prāyaścitta within the Kurma Purana’s teaching context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma Purana
• Prāyaścitta
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; instead it supports the Purāṇic path where self-knowledge is stabilized by śuddhi (purification) and niyama (discipline). The three-night fast functions as a purificatory restraint that prepares the mind for higher contemplation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tapas in the form of trirātra-abhojana (three-night fasting), aligning with yogic niyamas such as śauca (purity) and tapas (austerity). In Kurma Purana’s broader ethos, such restraints support steadiness for mantra, dhyāna, and devotion to Īśvara.

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

It does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; however, its dharma-based purification logic fits the Kurma Purana’s synthetic framework where disciplined conduct and expiation are shared foundations for both Śaiva (including Pāśupata-leaning) and Vaiṣṇava spiritual practice.