Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

कृतान्नमुदकुम्भं च वैशाख्यां च विशेषतः / निर्दिश्य धर्मराजाय विप्रेभ्यो मुच्यते भयात्

Transliteration

kṛtānnamudakumbhaṃ ca vaiśākhyāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ / nirdiśya dharmarājāya viprebhyo mucyate bhayāt

Translation

Having offered prepared food and a water-pot—especially during the month of Vaiśākha—and dedicating that gift to Dharmarāja (Yama), one becomes freed from fear through gifts made to the brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• kṛta-annaम्: cooked food
• kṛta-annaम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• udaka-kumbham: a water-pot
• udaka-kumbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• vaiśākhyām: in (the month of) Vaiśākha
• vaiśākhyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśākhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb), ‘especially’

• nirdiśya: having offered/dedicated
• nirdiśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-diś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having offered/assigned/indicated’

• dharmarājāya: to Dharmarāja
• dharmarājāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• viprebhyaḥ: from Brahmins
• viprebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mucyate: is released/freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages on dāna-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Dharma-rāja (Yama)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Vaiśākha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that fear diminishes when one aligns action with dharma and dedicates merit beyond ego; such self-transcending dedication supports inner steadiness that prepares the mind for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Karma-yoga in a Purāṇic frame: disciplined giving (dāna) in sacred time (Vaiśākha), performed with dedication (nirdiśya) and purity, functioning as a mind-purifier that supports later yogic concentration and devotion.

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

Though not naming Śiva directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Viṣṇu as Kūrma teaches dharma that culminates in fearlessness and purification—foundational aims shared with Śaiva (including Pāśupata) soteriology.