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Shloka 39

Rules of Food, Acceptance, and Purity for the Twice-Born

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

प्रोक्षितं भक्षयेदेषां मांसं च द्विजकाम्यया / यथाविधि नियुक्तं च प्राणानामपि चात्यये

prokṣitaṃ bhakṣayedeṣāṃ māṃsaṃ ca dvijakāmyayā / yathāvidhi niyuktaṃ ca prāṇānāmapi cātyaye

إذا رُشَّ لحمُها رشًّا طقسيًّا (بروكشِتَه) فصار صالحًا، جاز أكله عند إرادة سدّ حاجة ذوي الميلادين؛ وإذا أُمِر به على وجهه وفق القاعدة—حتى في حال الضرورة حين تكون الحياة نفسها على المحكّ.

प्रोक्षितम्sprinkled (ritually)
प्रोक्षितम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र-उक्ष् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘sprinkled/purified (with water)’
भक्षयेत्should eat
भक्षयेत्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootभक्ष् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
एषाम्of these
एषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
मांसम्meat
मांसम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमांस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
द्विज-काम्ययाfor the sake of (a) Brahmin’s desire
द्विज-काम्यया:
Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; तृतीया-हेतौ—‘द्विजस्य काम्यया’ (for the desire/pleasure of a Brahmin)
यथा-विधिaccording to the prescribed rule
यथा-विधि:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (according to rule)
नियुक्तम्enjoined
नियुक्तम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootनि-युज् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘enjoined/appointed’ (object understood: meat/eating)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
प्राणानाम्of lives
प्राणानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootप्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
अपिeven/also
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (inclusive particle)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
अत्ययेin an emergency
अत्यये:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in extremity/at the time of danger’

Traditional narration context: a senior sage instructing on dharma (within the Kurma Purana’s didactic discourse)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

This verse does not directly define Atman; it frames dharma in practical terms—showing that right action is guided by rule (vidhi) and context (āpada), which supports inner steadiness required for higher knowledge.

No explicit yogic technique is stated; the verse emphasizes ethical discipline and situational dharma (especially in emergencies), which functions as the moral groundwork for Yoga and for the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava spiritual synthesis.

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu directly; its teaching aligns with the Purana’s integrative approach by grounding spiritual life in dharmic regulation—purity, injunction, and compassionate pragmatism in crisis—shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.