Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

बहिर्माल्यं बहिर्गन्धं भार्यया सह भोजनम् / विगृह्य वादं कुद्वारप्रवेशं च विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

bahirmālyaṃ bahirgandhaṃ bhāryayā saha bhojanam / vigṛhya vādaṃ kudvārapraveśaṃ ca vivarjayet

Translation

当避在外炫饰花鬘与香料；当避与妻同食而致不端之态；当避争吵诤论；亦当避由不正之门或隐秘小径出入。

Word by Word

• बहिः-माल्यम्: garlands worn outside (public display)
• बहिः-माल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (बहिः स्थितं माल्यम्)

• बहिः-गन्धम्: perfume/fragrance (used) outside
• बहिः-गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (बहिः स्थितः गन्धः)

• भार्यया: with (one’s) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakaraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/साकं-योगे करण), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-उपपद (preposition-like indeclinable governing instrumental)

• भोजनम्: eating / meal
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विगृह्य: having quarreled
• विगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-ग्रह् (धातु) → विगृह्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having quarreled)

• वादम्: argument / dispute
• वादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कु-द्वार-प्रवेशम्: entering by a bad/forbidden door
• कु-द्वार-प्रवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कुद्वारे प्रवेशः)

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

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid / shun
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) [वि-उपसर्ग]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional attribution: the Kurma Purana narrator (Sūta) conveying dharma-instructions of the text to the assembled sages (Sadācāra section).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing restraint over display, speech, and movement, it supports purification of conduct (ācāra-śuddhi), which in Purāṇic yoga is a practical foundation for inward steadiness needed for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights yama-like disciplines—control of outward indulgence, avoidance of quarrel, and careful regulation of behavior—preparatory ethics that stabilize the mind for dhyāna and higher yoga taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana (including Pāśupata-oriented teachings).

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

This verse is primarily ethical (sadācāra) rather than theological; its shared-dharma emphasis reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where right conduct is upheld as common ground for devotion and yoga regardless of sectarian framing.