Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

उष्णमन्नं द्विजातिभ्यो दातव्यं श्रेय इच्छता / अन्यत्र फलमूलेभ्यः पानकेभ्यस्तथैव च

Transliteration

uṣṇamannaṃ dvijātibhyo dātavyaṃ śreya icchatā / anyatra phalamūlebhyaḥ pānakebhyastathaiva ca

Translation

من يبتغي الخَيرَ الروحي فليُعْطِ ذوي الميلادَين طعامًا حارًّا طازجَ الإعداد؛ إلا الفواكهَ والجذورَ، وكذلك شرابَ «پانَكا» (pānaka) فيجوز تقديمه على وجهٍ آخر مناسب.

Word by Word

• उष्णम्: warm, hot
• उष्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (अन्नम्)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्विजातिभ्यः: to the twice-born (people)
• द्विजातिभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), बहुवचन

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory: ‘to be given’)

• श्रेयः: welfare, the good
• श्रेयः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; फल/उद्देश्य-रूपेण

• इच्छता: by one desiring
• इच्छता: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; कर्तृ-विशेषण (‘by one who desires’)

• अन्यत्र: except, otherwise
• अन्यत्र: Apavada (अपवाद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/अपवाद-अव्यय (adverb: ‘elsewhere/except’)

• फलमूलेभ्यः: from fruits and roots (i.e., except those)
• फलमूलेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (फलानि च मूलानि च)

• पानकेभ्यः: from drinks/sherbets
• पानकेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya-bhava (अव्ययभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle: emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma (dana/anna-dana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• dvija
• anna-dana
• pānaka

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Atman; it teaches dharma as a purifying support—right giving (especially anna-dana) refines the giver’s intention (śreyas) and prepares the mind for higher knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit meditation technique is taught; the verse highlights disciplined charity and purity in offering, an ethical foundation comparable to yama/niyama that supports later Shaiva-Vaishnava yogic teaching in the Kurma Purana.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva-Vishnu unity; it reflects the shared dharmic ground upheld across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams—purity, right intention, and service—forming a common basis for later synthesis in the Purana.