Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 54

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम् / भिक्षेत भिक्षां प्रथमं या चैनं न विमानयेत्

Transliteration

mātaraṃ vā svasāraṃ vā māturvā bhaginīṃ nijām / bhikṣeta bhikṣāṃ prathamaṃ yā cainaṃ na vimānayet

Translation

Er soll zuerst Almosen bei der Mutter erbitten, oder bei der eigenen Schwester, oder bei der Schwester der Mutter—sofern sie ihn nicht verächtlich behandelt.

Word by Word

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: “or”)

• svasāram: sister
• svasāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• mātuḥ: of (one’s) mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• bhaginīm: sister
• bhaginīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaginī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• nijām: one’s own
• nijām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) qualifying ‘bhaginīm’

• bhikṣeta: should beg
• bhikṣeta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhikṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—याचेत् (should beg)

• bhikṣām: alms
• bhikṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative: “first/at first”)

• yā: who (she who)
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: “and”)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/सामान्य (pronoun), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• vimānayet: should disrespect/insult
• vimānayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mān (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—अवमानं न कुर्यात् (should not disrespect)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and disciplined living

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• mother
• sister
• maternal aunt

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames self-discipline and freedom from humiliation/ego-injury as part of dharmic living, which supports inner steadiness needed for realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct meditation technique is given; the verse highlights ethical restraint and regulated sustenance (bhiksha-niyama), a practical discipline that stabilizes the mind and supports Yoga practice.

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

It does not explicitly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it contributes to the shared dharmic foundation valued across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams that the Kurma Purana harmonizes.