Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 59

Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni

Devanagari script

षष्ठान्नकालतामासं संहिताजप एव च / होमाश्च शाकला नित्यमपाङ्क्तानां विशोधनम्

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhānnakālatāmāsaṃ saṃhitājapa eva ca / homāśca śākalā nityamapāṅktānāṃ viśodhanam

Translation

对于已成apāṅktya（不堪与众同列共食、共行仪轨）者，所说的净化之法是：一月之内守“第六餐时”的饮食规制，诵持《Saṃhitā》之咒诵，并恒常修作Śākala火供；此等即为其清净之道。

Word by Word

• षष्ठान्नकालतामासम्: a month of taking food on the sixth day
• षष्ठान्नकालतामासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठ-अन्न-कालता-मास (प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठ + अन्न + कालता + मास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular); समासार्थः: ‘षष्ठे (दिने) अन्नकालता’ इति नियमः यस्य सः मासः (a month with the rule of taking food on the sixth day)

• संहिताजपः: recitation of the Saṃhitā
• संहिताजपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता-जप (प्रातिपदिक; संहिता + जप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक अव्यय (particle: only/indeed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• होमाः: fire-offerings
• होमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शाकलाः: (rites/recitations) of the Śākala (school)
• शाकलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative plural); शाकल-शाखासम्बद्धाः (pertaining to the Śākala recension)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय/नित्य-नपुंसक एकवचन)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

• अपाङ्क्तानाम्: of those excluded from the line (impure/outcast)
• अपाङ्क्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपाङ्क्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, genitive plural)

• विशोधनम्: purification
• विशोधनम्: Kriya-phala (क्रियाफल/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma/prāyaścitta instructions as taught in the tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Veda Saṃhitā
• Homa
• Śākala (Vedic tradition)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-śāstra in tone: it focuses on external and internal purification through disciplined conduct (niyama), Vedic recitation, and homa, which in the Purāṇic view supports clarity (śuddhi) conducive to realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights discipline (niyama) and mantra-japa—specifically Saṃhitā recitation—along with daily homa as a purificatory sādhanā; these function as preparatory practices that steady the practitioner for higher contemplative paths described elsewhere in the Kurma tradition.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, its emphasis on Vedic japa and homa reflects the shared ritual foundation honored across Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis in the Kurma Purana, where purity and right practice underpin devotion and liberation.