Shloka 4
Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage
Yātrā-vidhi
यस्तु पुत्रांस्तथा बालान् स्नापयेत् पाययेत् तथा / यथात्मना तथा सर्वान् दानं विप्रेषु दापयेत्
yastu putrāṃstathā bālān snāpayet pāyayet tathā / yathātmanā tathā sarvān dānaṃ vipreṣu dāpayet
Wer seine Söhne und die kleinen Kinder badet und ihnen ebenso zu trinken und Nahrung gibt—alle Abhängigen wie das eigene Selbst behandelnd—soll auch bewirken, dass Gaben den Brahmanen (Brahmanas) dargebracht werden.
Suta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings as taught by Lord Kurma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
By using “yathātmanā” (treating others as oneself), the verse grounds dharma in an Atman-centered ethic: self-awareness becomes the measure for compassionate care and righteous giving.
No technique is prescribed directly; instead, it emphasizes the yamas-like ethical base—care, non-harm, and generosity—which the Kurma Purana treats as prerequisites that stabilize the mind for higher yoga, including Pashupata-oriented discipline.
It does so indirectly through shared dharma: the same ethical discipline and dana-support for sacred learning underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths in the Kurma Purana’s synthesis.