Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णाष्टम्यां महादेवं तथा कृष्णचतुर्दशीम् / संपूज्य ब्राह्मणमुखे सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṃ mahādevaṃ tathā kṛṣṇacaturdaśīm / saṃpūjya brāhmaṇamukhe sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

若在黑八日（Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī）与黑十四日（Kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī）如法礼拜大天（Mahādeva），并以婆罗门为尊贵受供者、由其口受纳此供养者，便能解脱一切罪业。

Word by Word

• कृष्ण-अष्टम्याम्: on the dark-fortnight eighth (Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī)
• कृष्ण-अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णपक्षस्य अष्टम्याम्)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (also/likewise)

• कृष्ण-चतुर्दशीम्: the dark-fortnight fourteenth (Kṛṣṇacaturdaśī)
• कृष्ण-चतुर्दशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णपक्षस्य चतुर्दशीम्)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; अर्थः—having worshipped

• ब्राह्मण-मुखे: in/at the mouth (presence) of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मण-मुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्राह्मणस्य मुखे)

• सर्व-पापैः: from all sins
• सर्व-पापैः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘from all sins’ अर्थे अपादान-भावः

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and vrata practice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Shiva
• Brahmana
• Krishna Ashtami
• Krishna Chaturdashi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames purification and liberation in devotional-dharmic terms: honoring Mahādeva on prescribed tithis and serving brāhmaṇas purifies the practitioner, preparing the mind for Self-knowledge rather than defining Ātman directly.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga in a Purāṇic mode—disciplined observance (vrata), focused worship (pūjā), and brāhmaṇa-sevā/annadāna as purifying auxiliaries that support steadiness (śuddhi) necessary for higher yoga.

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

With Lord Kūrma teaching Śiva-worship as a valid path to purification, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony: devotion to Mahādeva is integrated within a Vishnu-taught dharma framework.