Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानां ताम्रस्य रजतस्य च / अयः कांस्योपलानां च द्वादशाहं कणाशनम्

Transliteration

maṇimuktāpravālānāṃ tāmrasya rajatasya ca / ayaḥ kāṃsyopalānāṃ ca dvādaśāhaṃ kaṇāśanam

Translation

若因接触宝石、珍珠与珊瑚，及铜与银，又及铁、钟金（kāṃsya）与石而生不净者，当行十二日之净戒：唯食谷粒（kaṇa）。

Word by Word

• मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानाम्: of gems, pearls, and corals
• मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + मुक्ता + प्रवाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘of gems, pearls, and corals’ (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• ताम्रस्य: of copper
• ताम्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• रजतस्य: of silver
• रजतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

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

• अयः: of iron
• अयः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — वैदिक/काव्य-प्रयोगे ‘अयः’

• कांस्योपलानाम्: of bell-metal and stones
• कांस्योपलानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कांस्य + उपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘of bell-metal and stones’ (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

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

• द्वादशाहम्: twelve days
• द्वादशाहम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘for twelve days’ (काल-अवधि)

• कणाशनम्: subsisting on grains (coarse food)
• कणाशनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कणा + अशन्/अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘eating grains/particles’ (कणा-भोजनम्)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Vyāsa’s teaching to the sages) — prescriptive dharma instruction in the Kurma Purana’s vrata/prāyaścitta section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by prescribing restraint and purification, the verse supports the dharmic discipline (śauca, saṃyama) that steadies the mind—an aid for recognizing the Atman beyond bodily and ritual impurity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Austerity through regulated diet (kaṇāśana) for twelve days is emphasized. Such tapas functions as sense-control and mental purification, aligning with the broader Kurma Purana ethos that disciplined living supports higher yoga and devotion.

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

The verse is primarily a dharma/prāyaścitta injunction, not a theological statement. In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such purificatory observances are shared foundations for both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths, preparing the practitioner for devotion and yoga.