Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

यद् यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चापि दयितं गृहे / तत्तद् गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्ष्यमिच्छता

Transliteration

yad yadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāpi dayitaṃ gṛhe / tattad guṇavate deyaṃ tadevākṣyamicchatā

Translation

Was immer in der Welt am meisten geschätzt wird und was im Hause am liebsten ist—wer unvergängliches Verdienst begehrt, gebe gerade dies einem würdigen, tugendhaften Empfänger.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object; correlating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्ध-सूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object; correlating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• iṣṭa-tamam: most desired
• iṣṭa-tamam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त/ppp from √iṣ, धातु) + tamaP (तद्धित-प्रत्यय, superlative)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अतिशय (superlative)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object; correlating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्ध-सूचक सर्वनाम

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

• dayitam: beloved
• dayitam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayita (कृदन्त/ppp from √day, धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तद्-सम्बन्धी (correlative pronoun)

• tat: that (very)
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति (emphatic)

• guṇavate: to the virtuous person
• guṇavate: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• deyam: should be given
• deyam: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deya (कृदन्त/gerundive from √dā, धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate: 'is to be given')

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object; resumptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• akṣyam: imperishable
• akṣyam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); नञ्-प्रत्यय (a- privative)

• icchatā: by one desiring
• icchatā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; 'by one who desires')
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग (m./generic), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Vyāsa’s teaching to the sages, within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Guṇavat (worthy recipient)
• Dāna (charity)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches non-attachment and sacrifice of what is most dear; such inner renunciation purifies the mind, making it fit for realizing the imperishable (akṣaya) truth that culminates in Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes karma-yoga in the form of dāna: offering what one values most to a guṇavat (worthy person) as a discipline of detachment, purity (śuddhi), and right intention—supporting the broader Purāṇic path toward steadiness of mind.

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

It does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative ethic where dharma (like dāna to the worthy) is a shared foundation supporting both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava spiritual aims—purification leading toward the imperishable.