Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 102

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

देवयज्ञं पितृयज्ञं भूतयज्ञं तथैव च / मानुष्यं ब्रह्मयज्ञं च पञ्च यज्ञान् प्रचक्षते

Transliteration

devayajñaṃ pitṛyajñaṃ bhūtayajñaṃ tathaiva ca / mānuṣyaṃ brahmayajñaṃ ca pañca yajñān pracakṣate

Translation

They declare five sacred duties (the five great sacrifices): the offering to the gods, the offering to the ancestors, the offering to living beings, the offering to human guests, and the offering to Brahman—svādhyāya, the study and reverent transmission of the Veda.

Word by Word

• देवयज्ञम्: deva-sacrifice
• देवयज्ञम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: देवानां यज्ञः

• पितृयज्ञम्: ancestor-sacrifice
• पितृयज्ञम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पितॄणां यज्ञः

• भूतयज्ञम्: offering to beings
• भूतयज्ञम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भूतानां यज्ञः

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner: thus/so)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मानुष्यम्: human (i.e., man-sacrifice)
• मानुष्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (मानुष्ययज्ञस्य संक्षेप-निर्देशः)

• ब्रह्मयज्ञम्: Brahma/Veda-sacrifice (study)
• ब्रह्मयज्ञम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ब्रह्मणः/वेदस्य यज्ञः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे विशेषणम्

• यज्ञान्: sacrifices
• यज्ञान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रचक्षते: they declare/call
• प्रचक्षते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Traditional puranic narrator within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching context (instructional voice aligned with Lord Kurma’s discourse tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs
• Bhutas
• Brahman
• Veda

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By naming brahmayajña as one of the five, the verse points to Vedic study and contemplation as a sacred duty that turns the mind toward Brahman/Atman—linking outward ritual with inward knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse does not teach a posture-based yoga; it highlights brahmayajña—svādhyāya (Vedic study/recitation) and disciplined remembrance—as a daily practice that purifies the mind and supports higher yoga (including Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis found in the Kurma Purana).

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

Indirectly: it frames dharma as a unified fivefold discipline where devotion (to devas), reverence (to ancestors), compassion (to beings), service (to humans), and sacred knowledge (Brahman/Veda) function together—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s integrative, non-sectarian spirit that harmonizes Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.