Shloka 2

Agnihotra, Seasonal Śrauta Duties, and the Authority of Śruti–Smṛti–Purāṇa

Devanagari script

शस्यान्ते नवशस्येष्ट्या तथर्त्वन्ते द्विजो ऽध्वरैः / पशुना त्वयनस्यान्ते समान्ते सौमिकैर्मखैः

Transliteration

śasyānte navaśasyeṣṭyā tathartvante dvijo 'dhvaraiḥ / paśunā tvayanasyānte samānte saumikairmakhaiḥ

Translation

Am Ende der Ernte soll das Neugrain-Opfer (navaśasya-iṣṭi) vollzogen werden. Am Ende jeder Jahreszeit sollen die dvija, die „Zweimalgeborenen“, vedische Opfer (adhvara) darbringen. Am Ende jedes Halbjahres (ayana) soll ein Tieropfer dargebracht werden; und am Ende des Jahres sollen Soma-Opfer (saumika makha) vollzogen werden.

Word by Word

• śasya-ante: at the end of the harvest
• śasya-ante: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śasya (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śasyasya ante = at harvest end

• nava-śasya-iṣṭyā: with the new-grain iṣṭi
• nava-śasya-iṣṭyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + śasya (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: navaśasyasya iṣṭiḥ = offering with new-grain sacrifice

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'likewise'

• ṛtu-ante: at the end of the season
• ṛtu-ante: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ṛtoḥ ante = at season’s end

• dvijaḥ: the twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• adhvaraiḥ: with sacrifices (adhvaras)
• adhvaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; instrumental plural

• paśunā: with an animal (offering)
• paśunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental

• tu: and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (contrastive particle)

• ayana-asya-ante: at the end of this ayana
• ayana-asya-ante: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayana (प्रातिपदिक) + asya (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: asya ayanasya ante = at the end of this ayana (half-year)

• sam-ante: at the end of the year
• sam-ante: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: samasya ante = at year’s end (end of the cycle)

• saumikaḥ: Soma-related
• saumikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana (saumikaiḥ); qualifying makhaiḥ

• makhaiḥ: with sacrifices (makhas)
• makhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

Speaker

Vyasa (narrating dharma and yajña-timings to the sages in the Purva-bhaga context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Adhvara (Vedic sacrifice)
• Navaśasya-iṣṭi
• Paśu-yajña
• Soma-yajña

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily karmakāṇḍa-oriented: it teaches dharma through correctly timed yajñas. Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic view that disciplined action (niyata-karma) purifies the mind, preparing one for Atman-knowledge taught elsewhere (including the Ishvara Gita sections).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct meditation technique is taught here; the practice is yajña as a form of disciplined, time-bound sādhanā. In the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, such niyama and ritual purity function as preparatory limbs that support higher yogic contemplation and devotion.

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

The verse itself is non-sectarian and Vedic in tone, emphasizing orthodox yajña-dharma rather than sectarian theology. In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such Vedic duties are upheld as compatible with devotion to Hari (Kurma/Vishnu) and reverence for Śiva, integrating karma with bhakti and yoga.