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Shloka 57

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

गुरोः कुले न भिक्षेत न ज्ञातिकुलबन्धुषु / अलाभे त्वन्यगेहानां पूर्वं पूर्वं विवर्जयेत्

guroḥ kule na bhikṣeta na jñātikulabandhuṣu / alābhe tvanyagehānāṃ pūrvaṃ pūrvaṃ vivarjayet

لا ينبغي أن يستجدي في بيت مُعلّمه (الغورو)، ولا بين الأقارب وروابط العشيرة. فإن لم ينل شيئًا، فليتوجّه إلى بيوتٍ أخرى، متجنبًا—على الترتيب—البيوت التي قصدها من قبل.

guroḥof the teacher
guroḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootguru (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.)
kulein the family/household
kule:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkula (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (sg.)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (not)
bhikṣetashould beg
bhikṣeta:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhikṣ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; निषेधेन—“should not beg”
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (not)
jñāti-kula-bandhuṣuamong relatives/family-friends
jñāti-kula-bandhuṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootjñāti (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थक समास (“kinsmen, family, and friends/relations” as a group); पुंलिङ्ग (m.) ‘bandhu’, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), बहुवचन (pl.)
alābhein case of not obtaining (alms)
alābhe:
Nimitta-adhikaraṇa (निमित्त-अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roota-lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (sg.); नञ्-युक्त (“in case of non-attainment”)
tubut
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)
anya-gehānāmof other houses
anya-gehānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootanya (प्रातिपदिक) + geha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (“of other houses”); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) ‘geha’, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)
pūrvamfirst
pūrvam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpūrva (प्रातिपदik)
Formक्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: “first/previously”)
pūrvamin order (earlier ones)
pūrvam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpūrva (प्रातिपदik)
Formक्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for sequence: “one by one in order”)
vivarjayetshould avoid
vivarjayet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi-varj (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—परित्यजेत्/वर्जयेत् (should avoid)

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in dharma-guidelines for disciplined living

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

L
Lord Kurma
V
Vishnu
G
Guru
V
Varnashrama Dharma
B
Bhiksha

FAQs

Indirectly: by prescribing non-dependence on personal ties and disciplined restraint, it supports inner detachment (vairagya), a prerequisite for steady contemplation of the Atman beyond social identity.

A preparatory discipline akin to yama/niyama: regulated alms-seeking, avoidance of familiar households that create attachment, and non-repetition that curbs craving—supporting steadiness for mantra, japa, and contemplative practice emphasized in Kurma Purana’s broader yogic ethos.

Not by explicit doctrine, but by shared dharmic method: the same ascetic restraint valued in Shaiva (including Pashupata-leaning) and Vaishnava paths is taught here by Lord Kurma, reflecting the Purana’s synthesis in practical sadhana.