Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

न भक्षयेत् सर्वमृगान् पक्षिणो ऽन्यान् वनेचरान् / जलेचरान् स्थलचरान् प्राणिनश्चेति धारणा

Transliteration

na bhakṣayet sarvamṛgān pakṣiṇo 'nyān vanecarān / jalecarān sthalacarān prāṇinaśceti dhāraṇā

Translation

不应食用任何兽类——亦不食其他飞鸟与林野之生灵——亦不食水中行者或陆上行者；此即所规定之克制（dhāraṇā）。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat
• भक्षयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should eat

• सर्व-मृगान्: all deer/wild animals
• सर्व-मृगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वे मृगाः’; Accusative plural (masculine)

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (वैदिक/छान्दस-रूपेण; सामान्ये ‘पक्षिणः’ = Nom.Pl.); here as object with ‘अन्यान्’; Accusative plural intended

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifies पक्षिणः; Accusative plural (masculine)

• वने-चरान्: forest-dwelling (creatures)
• वने-चरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वने चरन्ति’ (forest-dwellers); Accusative plural

• जले-चरान्: water-dwelling (creatures)
• जले-चरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः ‘जले चरन्ति’ (water-dwellers); Accusative plural

• स्थले-चरान्: land-dwelling (creatures)
• स्थले-चरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः ‘स्थले चरन्ति’ (land-dwellers); Accusative plural

• प्राणिनः: living beings
• प्राणिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (छान्दस-रूप); Accusative plural intended

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

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थ-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-कार (quotative particle)

• धारणा: the rule/observance
• धारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (feminine)

Speaker

Narratorial/Instructional voice of the Purana (dharma-vidhi section, presented in the Kurma Purana’s teaching style)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing non-violence toward all prāṇins (living beings), the verse supports the dharmic insight that the same conscious principle is to be respected in all embodied life—an ethical ground that aligns with realizing the Self as universal rather than ego-bound.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights dhāraṇā as disciplined restraint expressed through ahiṃsā in diet—an applied yama-like practice that stabilizes the mind, reduces rajas-tamas, and supports tapas and meditation in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented dharma.

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

While not naming either deity, the rule embodies the shared dharmic and yogic ethic honored in both Shaiva (including Pāśupata) and Vaishnava frameworks, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: devotion and liberation rest on self-control and compassion.