Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 114

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

भिक्षामाहुर्ग्रासमात्रमग्रं तस्याश्चतुर्गुणम् / पुष्कलं हन्तकारं तु तच्चतुर्गुणमुच्यते

Transliteration

bhikṣāmāhurgrāsamātramagraṃ tasyāścaturguṇam / puṣkalaṃ hantakāraṃ tu taccaturguṇamucyate

Translation

يقولون إن أرفع مقدار للصدقة هو لقمة واحدة؛ وأما الحصة «الكاملة» فهي أربعة أضعاف ذلك. وأما العطاء «الوفير المفرِط» الذي قد يصير مُهلكًا بسبب الزيادة، فيُوصَف بأنه أربعة أضعاف حتى لتلك الحصة الكاملة.

Word by Word

• भिक्षाम्: alms-portion
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहुः: they say/call
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ग्रास-मात्रम्: a mouthful-measure
• ग्रास-मात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (measure of a mouthful); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अग्रम्: the first portion (agra)
• अग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्याः: of that (agra)
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• चतुर्-गुणम्: four times (as much)
• चतुर्-गुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (context: predicate ‘fourfold’)

• पुष्कलम्: abundant
• पुष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• हन्तकारम्: hantakāra portion (full meal)
• हन्तकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (referring to hantakāra)

• चतुर्-गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्-गुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Traditional narrator/teacher within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-instruction context (authoritative sages’ teaching as reported in the text)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches restraint and right measure in conduct; such ethical discipline (yama-like moderation) purifies the mind, which is a prerequisite for realizing the Atman in the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual framework.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes niyama-like regulation of food and giving—measured charity and avoidance of excess—supporting inner steadiness (sattva) that undergirds dhyana and the Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis of disciplined practice.

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

Not explicitly; the verse belongs to shared dharma-ethics upheld across Shaiva and Vaishnava teaching—moderation and non-harm—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where right conduct supports devotion to Ishvara in either form.