Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 60

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

Devanagari script

भैक्ष्येण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेद् व्रती / भैक्ष्येण व्रतिनो वृत्तिरुपवाससमा स्मृता

Transliteration

bhaikṣyeṇa vartayennityaṃ naikānnādī bhaved vratī / bhaikṣyeṇa vratino vṛttirupavāsasamā smṛtā

Translation

A vow-observant should sustain himself daily by alms and should not become one who eats many kinds of foods. For the keeper of vows, living on alms is traditionally regarded as equivalent to fasting.

Word by Word

• भैक्ष्येण: by means of alms
• भैक्ष्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• वर्तयेत्: should sustain (himself)
• वर्तयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘to maintain oneself’ in usage

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• एक-अन्न-आदी: one who eats only one kind of food
• एक-अन्न-आदी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (एकम् अन्नम् आदिः यस्य/एकान्न-आदी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one-food-only eater’

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रती: a vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भैक्ष्येण: by alms
• भैक्ष्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• व्रतिनः: of the vow-observer
• व्रतिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वृत्तिः: livelihood/practice
• वृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• उपवास-समा: equal to fasting
• उपवास-समा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपवासेन समा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वृत्तेः विशेषणम्

• स्मृता: is regarded (as)
• स्मृता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is considered’

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching on vrata-discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Vratin (observer of vows)
• Bhiksha (alms)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes restraint of appetite and simplicity, which supports inner purification (śuddhi) and steadiness (sthiti) needed for realizing the Atman beyond sensory craving.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Āhāra-niyama (discipline of food) and tapas (austerity): living on bhikṣā and avoiding variety-seeking are practical restraints that steady the mind and reduce rāga, preparing one for meditation and higher yoga.

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

By focusing on shared dharma and tapas rather than sectarian markers: the Kurma Purana frames vow-discipline as a universal spiritual foundation compatible with both Shaiva (tapas-oriented) and Vaishnava (niyama-oriented) paths.