Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Rules of Food, Acceptance, and Purity for the Twice-Born

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

वृथा कृशरसंयावं पायसापूपमेव च / अनुपाकृतमांसं च देवान्नानि हवींषि च

Transliteration

vṛthā kṛśarasaṃyāvaṃ pāyasāpūpameva ca / anupākṛtamāṃsaṃ ca devānnāni havīṃṣi ca

Translation

不可徒然（无正当仪轨与旨意）供献kṛśara与saṃyāva，也不可供献payasa（乳饭）与apūpa饼；亦不可不如法呈上未熟之肉、devānna（供诸天之食）或havīṃṣi（祭祀供酥）等。

Word by Word

• वृथा: in vain/needlessly
• वृथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: in vain/without purpose)

• कृशर: kṛśara (rice/legume dish)
• कृशर: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संयावम्: saṃyāva (sweet cake/pudding)
• संयावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (प्रायः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पायस: pāyasa (milk-rice)
• पायस: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपूपम्: apūpa (cake)
• अपूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

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

• अनुपाकृतम्: uncooked/underdone
• अनुपाकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + पाकृत (कृदन्त; √पच्)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-भूतकृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘not cooked/underdone’

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• देव: of the gods
• देव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे पूर्वपद (in compound sense: ‘of the gods’)

• अन्नानि: foods
• अन्नानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (here as items to be avoided: accusative plural)

• हवींषि: oblations
• हवींषि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (here accusative plural)

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

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and proper ritual procedure

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma
• Devas
• Havis (sacrificial oblations)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual practice must be intentional and properly oriented—outer offerings are meant to refine the worshipper’s inner disposition toward Īśvara, not performed mechanically or “in vain.”

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes disciplined conduct (niyama) and purity in worship—supportive of Pāśupata-aligned sādhanā where right action, restraint, and correct ritual intention stabilize the mind for higher contemplation.

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

By stressing correct havis and devānna in Īśvara-oriented worship, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: whether framed through Vaiṣṇava (Kūrma) instruction or Śaiva discipline, the same sacred order governs effective devotion.