Shloka 42

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

तस्मान्निर्वर्तयेच्छ्राद्धं यथाशक्ति यथाबलम् / कामान् सलभते दिव्यान् मोक्षोपायं च विन्दति

Transliteration

tasmānnirvartayecchrāddhaṃ yathāśakti yathābalam / kāmān salabhate divyān mokṣopāyaṃ ca vindati

Translation

فلذلك ينبغي أن يُؤدَّى الشِّرادها (Śrāddha) على الوجه اللائق بحسب الاستطاعة والقوّة؛ فبذلك تُنال تحقيقاتٌ سماوية للرغبات الجديرة، ويُعثر أيضًا على وسيلة الموكشا، طريق التحرّر.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निर्वर्तयेत्: should perform; should carry out
• निर्वर्तयेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + वृत् (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: should perform/complete)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथाशक्ति: according to one’s ability
• यथाशक्ति: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable adverb: according to ability)

• यथाबलम्: according to one’s strength
• यथाबलम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (according to strength)

• कामान्: desires; wishes
• कामान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दिव्यान्: divine
• दिव्यान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मोक्षोपायम्: means to liberation
• मोक्षोपायम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षस्य उपायः = means to liberation)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• विन्दति: finds; obtains
• विन्दति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s teaching on Dharma, including Śrāddha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs (Ancestors)
• Mokṣa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that disciplined dharmic action (Śrāddha done within one’s capacity) purifies the practitioner and becomes a “mokṣopāya”—a practical means that supports realization beyond mere worldly gains.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights karma-yoga as a dharmic discipline: performing obligatory rites with faith and proportionate effort (yathāśakti, yathābalam). In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such purified action becomes a foundation for higher yogic pursuit, including Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava oriented liberation teachings.

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

This verse is primarily dharma-focused, but it fits the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis: liberation is supported by righteous action and devotion across sectarian lines, harmonizing Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths through a shared commitment to dharma and mokṣa.