Shloka 38

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

Dvija-Śauca and Anna-Doṣa

Devanagari script

शफरं सिंहतुण्डं च तथा पाठीनरोहितौ / मत्स्याश्चैते समुद्दिष्टा भक्षणाय द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

śapharaṃ siṃhatuṇḍaṃ ca tathā pāṭhīnarohitau / matsyāścaite samuddiṣṭā bhakṣaṇāya dvijottamāḥ

Translation

„Śaphara, Siṃhatuṇḍa sowie Pāṭhīna und Rohita—diese Fische werden ausdrücklich als zum Essen geeignet bezeichnet, o Bester der Zweimalgeborenen.“

Word by Word

• शफरम्: śaphara (a kind of fish)
• शफरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शफर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सिंह-तुण्डम्: siṃhatuṇḍa (lion-snouted fish)
• सिंह-तुण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + तुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘सिंहस्य तुण्डम्’/lion-snouted)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• पाठीन-रोहितौ: pāṭhīna and rohita (two fish)
• पाठीन-रोहितौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाठीन (प्रातिपदिक) + रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• मत्स्याः: fishes
• मत्स्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समुद्दिष्टाः: have been specified
• समुद्दिष्टाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘have been specified/mentioned’

• भक्षणाय: for eating
• भक्षणाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी (for the purpose of eating)

• द्विज-उत्तमाः: O best Brahmins
• द्विज-उत्तमाः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘उत्तमा द्विजाः’ (best of the twice-born)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying traditional dharma-teaching within the Kurma Purana framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (twice-born)
• Śaphara (fish)
• Siṃhatuṇḍa (fish)
• Pāṭhīna (fish)
• Rohita (fish)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is not a direct Atman-teaching; it belongs to dharma-śāstric discipline (āhāra-niyama). In the Kurma Purana’s broader vision, such regulation supports sattva and steadiness, which are prerequisites for higher knowledge of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yoga technique is taught here; the emphasis is preparatory—ethical and dietary restraint for dvijas. In Purāṇic yoga logic (including Shaiva–Vaishnava syntheses), regulated diet functions as a supportive limb for concentration, mantra, and worship.

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

The verse itself is neutral on Shiva–Vishnu theology, focusing on dharma. Within the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance, shared dharma (like disciplined conduct) is presented as common ground that can support both Shaiva (Pāśupata-oriented) and Vaishnava devotion and practice.