Shloka 23

Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

ऋणानि त्रीण्यपाकृत्य कुर्याद् वा तीर्थसेवनम् / विधाय वृत्तिं पुत्राणां भार्यां तेषु निधाय च

Transliteration

ṛṇāni trīṇyapākṛtya kuryād vā tīrthasevanam / vidhāya vṛttiṃ putrāṇāṃ bhāryāṃ teṣu nidhāya ca

Translation

بعد قضاء الديون الثلاثة (للآلهة، وللرِّشيّين، وللأسلاف)، يجوز له أن يشرع في خدمة التيِرثات والحجّ إليها؛ وبعد أن يرتّب معيشة أبنائه ويُودِع زوجته في رعايتهم، يمضي على نهج الدharma.

Word by Word

• ऋणानि: debts
• ऋणानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• अपाकृत्य: having removed
• अपाकृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + आ + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having removed/cleared)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• तीर्थसेवनम्: visiting/serving sacred places
• तीर्थसेवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थस्य सेवनम्)

• विधाय: having arranged
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having arranged/provided)

• वृत्तिम्: livelihood / maintenance
• वृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुत्राणाम्: of (his) sons
• पुत्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेषु: among them / in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘पुत्रेषु’ इत्यर्थे (among them)

• निधाय: having entrusted/placed
• निधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having entrusted/placed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

Speaker

Traditional narrator within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching discourse (speaker not explicit from this single verse segment)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification through dharma—clearing obligations and stabilizing family duties—as a prerequisite for higher spiritual pursuit that culminates in Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory discipline (niyama-like foundations): fulfilling ṛṇa-traya (debts to sages, gods, and ancestors) and then tīrtha-sevana as a purifying regimen that supports later yogic practice.

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

Not explicitly; it reflects the Purana’s shared dharma-framework used across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths—ethical completion of duties before intensified sādhanā.