Shloka 15

Āvāhāryaka-Śrāddha: Qualifications of Recipients, Paṅkti-Pāvana, and Exclusions

Devanagari script

वेदविद्यारतः स्नातो ब्रह्मचर्यपरः सदा / अथर्वणो मुमुक्षुश्च ब्राह्मणः पङ्क्तिपावनः

Transliteration

vedavidyārataḥ snāto brahmacaryaparaḥ sadā / atharvaṇo mumukṣuśca brāhmaṇaḥ paṅktipāvanaḥ

Translation

Ein Brahmane, der der vedischen Erkenntnis hingegeben ist—durch das rituelle Bad nach der Schülerzeit gereinigt, stets im Brahmacarya gefestigt, in der Atharvan‑Überlieferung verwurzelt und auf Mokṣa ausgerichtet—reinigt durch seine bloße Gegenwart die ganze Speisereihe (paṅkti).

Word by Word

• वेदविद्या-रतः: devoted to Vedic learning
• वेदविद्या-रतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदविद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—वेदविद्यायां रतः (locative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• स्नातः: bathed; purified
• स्नातः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle)

• ब्रह्मचर्य-परः: intent on celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्य-परः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मचर्ये परः (locative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• अथर्वणः: an Atharvan (Atharvaveda scholar/priest)
• अथर्वणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वण् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अथर्ववेदाध्यायी/अथर्वण-सम्बद्धः (denoting an Atharvan priest/scholar)

• मुमुक्षुः: one desiring liberation
• मुमुक्षुः: विशेषण/समनाधिकरण (Appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुमुक्षु (कृदन्त, उणादि/इच्छार्थक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इच्छार्थक कृदन्त—मोक्तुमिच्छति (desiderative sense)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पङ्क्ति-पावनः: purifier of the dining line/company
• पङ्क्ति-पावनः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पङ्क्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पङ्क्तेः पावनः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in Dharma within the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhāga discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Atharvaveda
• Brāhmaṇa
• Brahmacarya
• Mokṣa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to liberation (mokṣa) as the brāhmaṇa’s highest aim: Vedic discipline and purity are valuable insofar as they culminate in mumukṣutva—an inward orientation toward realizing the Self beyond ritual status.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds preparatory yogic ethics: brahmacarya (continence), disciplined life after snāna (snātaka conduct), and steady study—foundational restraints that support higher contemplation taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana’s yoga-oriented passages.

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

By emphasizing mokṣa, brahmacarya, and Vedic purity as universal spiritual prerequisites, it aligns with the Purana’s integrative stance: devotion and discipline lead to the same liberating truth, whether framed through Viṣṇu’s instruction or Śaiva-yogic terminology.