Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

फलमूलानि शाकानि भोज्यानि विविधानि च / प्रदद्याद् ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु मुदा युक्तः सदा भवेत्

Transliteration

phalamūlāni śākāni bhojyāni vividhāni ca / pradadyād brāhmaṇebhyastu mudā yuktaḥ sadā bhavet

Translation

Man soll den Brahmanen Früchte, Wurzeln, Gemüse und vielfältige heilsame Speisen darreichen; stets mit Freude verbunden, bleibe man beim Geben immer frohgemut.

Word by Word

• phala-mūlāni: fruits and roots
• phala-mūlāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (फलानि च मूलानि च)

• śākāni: vegetables
• śākāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• bhojyāni: edibles/food items
• bhojyāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhojya (कृदन्त/gerundive from √bhuj, धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• vividhāni: various
• vividhāni: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pradadyāt: should give
• pradadyāt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to Brahmins
• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-प्रदर्शक अव्यय (particle: 'indeed/but')

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yuktaḥ: endowed/connected
• yuktaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त/ppp from √yuj, धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्तृ-विशेषण

• sadā: always
• sadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• bhavet: should be
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (dharma-upadesha context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by prescribing joyful, selfless giving, the verse supports purification of the mind (citta-śuddhi), which is a prerequisite for realizing the Atman as unattached and complete.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights karma-yoga in a dharmic form—offering food with gladness and without reluctance. Such sattvic dana disciplines desire and prepares the practitioner for higher yogic practices taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana (including Pashupata-oriented inner discipline).

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

By grounding spiritual life in shared dharma—charity, purity, and joyful offering—the text reflects the Purana’s integrative approach where Vishnu’s instruction supports the same ethical and yogic foundations honored in Shaiva (including Pashupata) traditions.