Shloka 33

Rules of Food, Acceptance, and Purity for the Twice-Born

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

सिंहव्याघ्रं च मार्जारं श्वानं शूकरमेव च / शृगालं मर्कटं चैव गर्दभं च न भक्षयेत्

Transliteration

siṃhavyāghraṃ ca mārjāraṃ śvānaṃ śūkarameva ca / śṛgālaṃ markaṭaṃ caiva gardabhaṃ ca na bhakṣayet

Translation

Man soll das Fleisch von Löwe (siṃha), Tiger (vyāghra), Katze (mārjāra), Hund (śvāna), Schwein (śūkara), Schakal (śṛgāla), Affe (markaṭa) oder Esel (gardabha) nicht essen.

Word by Word

• सिंह-व्याघ्रम्: lion and tiger (collectively)
• सिंह-व्याघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) ‘सिंहश्च व्याघ्रश्च’; Accusative singular (neuter collective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मार्जारम्: cat
• मार्जारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (masculine)

• श्वानम्: dog
• श्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (masculine)

• शूकरम्: boar/pig
• शूकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (masculine)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय

• शृगालम्: jackal
• शृगालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृगाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (masculine)

• मर्कटम्: monkey
• मर्कटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (masculine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-अव्यय

• गर्दभम्: donkey
• गर्दभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (masculine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat
• भक्षयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should eat/should consume

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (Vyāsa/Śaunaka dialogue frame), presenting dharma-vidhi on permissible and prohibited foods

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Lion (siṃha)
• Tiger (vyāghra)
• Cat (mārjāra)
• Dog (śvāna)
• Pig (śūkara)
• Jackal (śṛgāla)
• Monkey (markaṭa)
• Donkey (gardabha)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing purity in conduct (especially food), it supports sāttvika discipline, which steadies the mind for self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s yoga and devotion sections.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights preparatory discipline (yama/niyama-style restraint) through āhāra-śuddhi—food purity—considered a practical foundation for mantra, meditation, and Pāśupata-oriented self-control.

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

This specific verse is a dharma injunction rather than a theological statement; it supports the shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ethic that purity, restraint, and righteous living are common prerequisites for devotion and yoga leading to the Supreme.