Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

कृतान्नमुदकुम्भं च वैशाख्यां च विशेषतः / निर्दिश्य धर्मराजाय विप्रेभ्यो मुच्यते भयात्

Transliteration

kṛtānnamudakumbhaṃ ca vaiśākhyāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ / nirdiśya dharmarājāya viprebhyo mucyate bhayāt

Translation

Wer zubereitete Speise und einen Wasserkrug darbringt—besonders im Monat Vaiśākha—und diese Gabe Dharmarāja (Yama) weiht, wird durch die Gaben an die Brāhmaṇas von Furcht befreit.

Word by Word

• kṛta-annaम्: cooked food
• kṛta-annaम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• udaka-kumbham: a water-pot
• udaka-kumbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• vaiśākhyām: in (the month of) Vaiśākha
• vaiśākhyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśākhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb), ‘especially’

• nirdiśya: having offered/dedicated
• nirdiśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-diś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having offered/assigned/indicated’

• dharmarājāya: to Dharmarāja
• dharmarājāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• viprebhyaḥ: from Brahmins
• viprebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mucyate: is released/freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages on dāna-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Dharma-rāja (Yama)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Vaiśākha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that fear diminishes when one aligns action with dharma and dedicates merit beyond ego; such self-transcending dedication supports inner steadiness that prepares the mind for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Karma-yoga in a Purāṇic frame: disciplined giving (dāna) in sacred time (Vaiśākha), performed with dedication (nirdiśya) and purity, functioning as a mind-purifier that supports later yogic concentration and devotion.

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

Though not naming Śiva directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Viṣṇu as Kūrma teaches dharma that culminates in fearlessness and purification—foundational aims shared with Śaiva (including Pāśupata) soteriology.