Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 22

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिने तिलान् कृत्त्वा हिरण्यं मधुसर्पिषी / ददाति यस्तु विप्राय सर्वं तरति दुष्कृतम्

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājine tilān kṛttvā hiraṇyaṃ madhusarpiṣī / dadāti yastu viprāya sarvaṃ tarati duṣkṛtam

Translation

من وضع حبّات السِّمسم على جلد ظبيٍ أسود وقدّمها لبرهمن، مع الذهب والعسل والسمن (الغي)، فإنه يعبر كلَّ سوءِ العمل وآثامه.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-ajine: in/into a black deerskin
• kṛṣṇa-ajine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tilān: sesame seeds
• tilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kṛttvā: having placed/made
• kṛttvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having made/placed’

• hiraṇyam: gold
• hiraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• madhu-sarpiṣī: honey and ghee
• madhu-sarpiṣī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + sarpis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (honey and ghee); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); relative pronoun

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• viprāya: to a Brahmin
• viprāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); duṣkṛtam-विशेषण

• tarati: crosses over/overcomes
• tarati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• duṣkṛtam: evil deed/sin
• duṣkṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dus (उपसर्ग) + kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in dharma (dāna-prāyaścitta context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches purification of the practitioner through dharmic action (dāna), which supports inner clarity needed for realizing the Self; moral cleansing is presented as a practical aid to spiritual progress.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No seated meditation is described; the practice is karma-yoga in a dharmic mode—ritualized giving (dāna) as a purificatory discipline that prepares the mind for higher yoga taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana (including Pāśupata-oriented restraint and inner purification).

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

Though not naming Śiva, the verse reflects the Purana’s integrative ethic: Viṣṇu as Lord Kūrma teaches a dharma of purification and merit that aligns with Śaiva-Pāśupata ideals of cleansing impurities to approach Īśvara.