Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

यदिस्यादधिको विप्रः शीलविद्यादिभिः स्वयम् / तस्मै यत्नेन दातव्यं अतिक्रम्यापि सन्निधिम्

Transliteration

yadisyādadhiko vipraḥ śīlavidyādibhiḥ svayam / tasmai yatnena dātavyaṃ atikramyāpi sannidhim

Translation

જો શીલ, વિદ્યા વગેરે ગુણોથી કોઈ બ્રાહ્મણ સ્વયં શ્રેષ્ઠ હોય, તો નજીકના લોકોને પણ અતિક્રમ કરીને વિશેષ પ્રયત્નથી તેને જ દાન આપવું જોઈએ.

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (सम्बन्धक-अव्यय) = ‘if’

• स्यात्: should be/is
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘would be’

• अधिकः: superior
• अधिकः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective of विप्रः

• विप्रः: a Brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• शील-विद्या-आदिभिः: by conduct, learning, etc.
• शील-विद्या-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘by conduct and learning etc.’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Manner (रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) = ‘oneself/indeed’

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial sense ‘with effort’

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/तव्यत् (कर्तव्यता), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal obligation: ‘it should be given’

• अतिक्रम्य: having passed over
• अतिक्रम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/त्वान्त (क्त्वा) = ‘having passed over’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = ‘even’

• सन्निधिम्: nearness/presence
• सन्निधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Traditional narrator voice (Purāṇic instruction within a dāna-dharma discourse, attributed in the Kurma Purana’s frame to the teaching lineage headed by Lord Kūrma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it teaches dharma through discernment in dāna—honouring inner qualities (śīla, vidyā) over mere external proximity, a principle consistent with Purāṇic emphasis on inner worth.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yoga technique is taught here; the implied discipline is ethical yoga (yama-like virtues): cultivating discernment, restraint, and reverence for learning and character—foundational supports for higher sādhana in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.

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

It does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; its dharma instruction aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis by grounding spiritual life in ethical conduct and right action, which both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths uphold as prerequisites for realization.