Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Aśauca-vidhi — Rules of Birth/Death Impurity, Sapinda Circles, and Śrāddha Sequence

Devanagari script

अनस्थिसंचित् विप्रे ब्राह्मणो रौति चेत् तदा / स्नानेनैव भवेच्छुद्धिः सचैलेन न संशयः

Transliteration

anasthisaṃcit vipre brāhmaṇo rauti cet tadā / snānenaiva bhavecchuddhiḥ sacailena na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

婆罗门啊，若婆罗门在未接触遗骨收集之事时偶然哭泣，则唯以沐浴便得清净——即使穿着衣服沐浴——毫无疑惑。

Word by Word

• अन-अस्थि-संचित्: not having collected the bones
• अन-अस्थि-संचित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् (नञ्-प्रत्यय, अव्ययार्थ) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + संचिता/संचित (कृदन्त, √चि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (अस्थि न संचिता यस्य/येन) ; कृदन्तः ‘संचित्’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) from √चि (चिनोति)

• विप्रे: in the case of a Brahmin (vipra)
• विप्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• रौति: cries, laments
• रौति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• भवेत्: would be, becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शुद्धिः: purification
• शुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/subject), एकवचन

• स-चैलेन: together with clothes (wearing cloth)
• स-चैलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/‘सह’) + चैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (चैलेन सह)

• न: not, no
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and śauca

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Brāhmaṇa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes outer purity (śauca) as a support for inner clarity; disciplined purification helps steady the mind so knowledge of the Self can arise without distraction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific āsana or dhyāna is taught; the verse highlights śauca (purificatory discipline), which functions as a foundational limb for yogic steadiness and ritual fitness in the Kurma Purana’s broader sādhanā framework.

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

By presenting dharma and purification as universally authoritative instructions delivered by Kūrma (Vishnu), the text supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where sectarian boundaries are secondary to shared discipline and spiritual order.