Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

भोजयेद् योगिनं पूर्वं तत्त्वज्ञानरतं यतिम् / अलाभे नैष्ठिकं दान्तमुपकुर्वाणकं तथा

Transliteration

bhojayed yoginaṃ pūrvaṃ tattvajñānarataṃ yatim / alābhe naiṣṭhikaṃ dāntamupakurvāṇakaṃ tathā

Translation

Zuerst soll man einen Yogin speisen—einen Yati, der der Erkenntnis der Wahrheit (tattva) hingegeben ist. Ist ein solcher nicht zu finden, so speise man einen standhaften (naiṣṭhika), selbstbeherrschten Entsagenden; ebenso auch den, der sich in hilfreichem Dienst betätigt.

Word by Word

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोजय (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोजक—‘cause to eat/feed’

• योगिनम्: a yogin
• योगिनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: first)

• तत्त्व-ज्ञान-रतम्: devoted to knowledge of reality
• तत्त्व-ज्ञान-रतम्: विशेषण (of योगिनम्/यतिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्त्वज्ञानं प्रति/तत्त्वज्ञाने रतः (tatpuruṣa chain)

• यतिम्: an ascetic
• यतिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अलाभे: in (case of) non-availability
• अलाभे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the absence (of such)’

• नैष्ठिकम्: steadfast (in vow)
• नैष्ठिकम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैष्ठिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘steadfast/strict (in vow)’

• दान्तम्: self-controlled
• दान्तम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम् (धातु) → दान्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘tamed/self-controlled’

• उपकुर्वाणकम्: one who renders service
• उपकुर्वाणकम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + कृ (धातु) → उपकुर्वाणक (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमानकाले)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त—उपकुर्वन् (one who serves/does service), diminutive/derivative -क

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (likewise)

Speaker

Traditional narration within Kurma Purana’s dharma-instruction (attributed to the Kurma Purana’s teaching voice, commonly framed as divine/puranic instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Yogin
• Yati

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prioritizing the “tattvajñānarata” (one devoted to knowledge of reality), the verse implies that realization of tattva/Atman is the highest aim; honoring such knowledge-bearers is treated as a superior dharmic act.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the yogin and the naiṣṭhika (steadfast votary) as ideal recipients—pointing to yogic discipline, sense-restraint (dānta), and committed observance as the practical foundation of spiritual life in the Kurma Purana’s dharma-yoga framework.

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

Indirectly: rather than sectarian markers, it prioritizes qualities central to both Shaiva and Vaishnava yoga—tattva-jñāna, self-control, and service—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative (Shaiva–Vaishnava) spiritual ethic.