Shloka 4

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

वेदार्थवित्तमः शान्तो धर्मकामो ऽग्निमान् द्विजः / स एव स्यात् परो धर्मो यमेको ऽपि व्यवस्यति

Transliteration

vedārthavittamaḥ śānto dharmakāmo 'gnimān dvijaḥ / sa eva syāt paro dharmo yameko 'pi vyavasyati

Translation

Der Zweimalgeborene, der den Sinn der Veden am besten kennt—friedvoll, dem Dharma zugetan und die heiligen Feuer unterhaltend—verkörpert selbst das höchste Dharma. Hält er auch nur an diesem einen Entschluss fest, so wird er zum erhabensten religiösen Pfad.

Word by Word

• veda-artha-vit-tamaḥ: the best knower of the Veda’s meaning
• veda-artha-vit-tamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda + artha + vid (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: वेदार्थवित् (तत्पुरुषः: वेदानाम् अर्थः) + superlative -तम (तमप्)

• śāntaḥ: peaceful
• śāntaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (कृदन्त from √śam)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies ‘dvijaḥ’

• dharma-kāmaḥ: desirous of dharma
• dharma-kāmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य कामः = desirous of dharma)

• agnimān: one who maintains the sacred fire
• agnimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni + mat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; possessive adjective with -मत् (मतुप्)

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• syāt: would be/should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies ‘dharmaḥ’

• dharmaḥ: dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominative

• yam: which (dharma)
• yam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun; object of ‘vyavasyati’

• ekaḥ: one (person)
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of ‘vyavasyati’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive particle (अपि)

• vyavasyati: decides/ascertains
• vyavasyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + ava + √sā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; ‘determines/decides’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to sages (Kurma Purana discourse context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Dharma
• Agni

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse define the highest Dharma?

It presents the highest Dharma as the firm resolve to live as a Veda-grounded, peaceful, self-controlled person devoted to righteousness—exemplified by the twice-born who sustains sacred discipline (including the fire-rites) and inner calm.

What spiritual discipline is implied here beyond ritual fire worship?

Alongside maintaining Agni, the verse emphasizes śānti (inner tranquility) and dharma-kāmatā (choosing righteousness as one’s aim), which aligns with yogic self-restraint (yama-like steadiness) foundational to later Kurma Purana teachings on devotion and liberation.

How does this verse support Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis in the Kurma Purana?

Rather than sectarian markers, it elevates universal dharma—Vedic insight, self-control, and disciplined practice—values honored across both Shaiva (Pashupata-oriented) and Vaishnava frameworks within the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology.