Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद् यत्नेन योगीन्द्रमीश्वरज्ञानतत्परम् / भोजयेद् हव्यकव्येषु अलाभादितरान् द्विजान्

Transliteration

tasmād yatnena yogīndramīśvarajñānatatparam / bhojayed havyakavyeṣu alābhāditarān dvijān

Translation

Darum soll man mit sorgfältigem Bemühen bei den Riten von havya und kavya (Gaben an die Götter und an die Ahnen) den erhabensten der Yogins speisen, der ganz dem Wissen um den Herrn (Īśvara) hingegeben ist; nur wenn ein solcher nicht zu erlangen ist, sollen andere Zweimalgeborene (Brāhmaṇas) gespeist werden.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); अपादानार्थक-तसिल् (तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that’)

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• योगीन्द्रम्: the lord of yogins
• योगीन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (योगिनाम् इन्द्रः)

• ईश्वर-ज्ञान-तत्परम्: devoted to knowledge of the Lord
• ईश्वर-ज्ञान-तत्परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर + ज्ञान + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (योगीन्द्रम्); तत्पुरुष-समास (ईश्वरस्य ज्ञाने तत्परः)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच् causative: भोजय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• हव्यकव्येषु: in the havya and kavya rites/offerings
• हव्यकव्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य + कव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (हव्यं च कव्यं च)

• अलाभात्: for lack (of him)
• अलाभात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• इतरान्: other
• इतरान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (द्विजान्)

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (in the Kurma Purana’s dharma discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara
• yogīndra
• dvija
• havya
• kavya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It prioritizes one who is steadfast in Īśvara-jñāna (knowledge of the Lord), implying that spiritual realization and God-knowledge are superior qualifications—more central than mere birth or ritual status.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the ideal recipient as a “yogīndra,” indicating a practitioner established in yoga and contemplation, whose inner discipline culminates in Īśvara-jñāna; such yogic attainment is treated as the highest eligibility in ritual contexts.

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

By centering the criterion on Īśvara-jñāna (knowledge of the one Lord), it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where the supreme Īśvara is approached through yoga and devotion beyond sectarian boundaries, consistent with the text’s Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava harmonizing tone.