Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 50
Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)
नोदके चात्मनो रूपं न कूलं श्वभ्रमेव वा / न लङ्घयेच्च मूत्रं वा नाधितिष्ठेत् कदाचन
nodake cātmano rūpaṃ na kūlaṃ śvabhrameva vā / na laṅghayecca mūtraṃ vā nādhitiṣṭhet kadācana
不应在水中观看自己的倒影；也不应踏踩河岸或坑穴之缘。不可跃过尿秽，更不可在其上站立。
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and purity (ācāra) norms
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
Indirectly, it frames self-discipline (śauca and ācāra) as a prerequisite for inner clarity: restraining careless behavior in impure contexts supports steadiness of mind, which is foundational for realizing the Self.
This verse emphasizes ethical-preparatory discipline—cleanliness and careful bodily conduct—akin to yama/niyama-style restraints that stabilize the practitioner before higher practices like mantra, meditation, and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.
By presenting a shared dharmic-ascetic code (śauca/ācāra) taught by Lord Kūrma, the text supports the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same purity and restraint undergird devotion and yoga across both traditions.