Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

याजनं योनिसंबन्धं सहवासं च भाषणम् / कुर्वाणः पतते जन्तुस्तस्माद् यत्नेन वर्जयेत्

Transliteration

yājanaṃ yonisaṃbandhaṃ sahavāsaṃ ca bhāṣaṇam / kurvāṇaḥ patate jantustasmād yatnena varjayet

Translation

若与不相应者从事不当的祭祀主祭、发生性与血缘之牵连、亲密同居并作私密交谈，众生便从正法中堕落；故当以谨慎之力加以远离。

Word by Word

• याजनम्: officiating sacrifice (for them)
• याजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• योनि-सम्बन्धम्: sexual/uterine connection
• योनि-सम्बन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि-सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—योनेः सम्बन्धः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सहवासम्: living together/association
• सहवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह-वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—सह इति अव्ययपूर्वकः वासः (अव्ययीभाव)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• भाषणम्: speaking/conversation
• भाषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुर्वाणः: doing (these)
• कुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पतते: falls
• पतते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• जन्तुः: a creature/person
• जन्तुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति निपातवत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that reason’)

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वर्जयेत्: one should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional narrator-to-sages instruction within the Purva-bhaga dharma-teaching frame (attributed to the Purana’s authoritative voice, ultimately grounded in Lord Kurma’s teaching tradition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that spiritual stability depends on dharmic discipline: when the mind is pulled into impure actions and associations, one ‘falls’ from clarity that supports Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes restraint and careful avoidance (a yama-like discipline): guarding conduct, speech, and company so the practitioner’s mind remains fit for mantra, worship, and contemplative practice.

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

Rather than sectarian doctrine, it stresses shared dharmic prerequisites valued in both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths—ethical purity and right association as foundations for devotion and liberation.