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Shloka 53

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

भवत्पूर्वं चरेद् भैक्ष्यमुपनीतो द्विजोत्तमः / भवन्मध्यं तु राजन्यो वैश्यस्तु भवदुत्तरम्

bhavatpūrvaṃ cared bhaikṣyamupanīto dvijottamaḥ / bhavanmadhyaṃ tu rājanyo vaiśyastu bhavaduttaram

王よ、近行(ウパナヤナ)を受けたばかりのブラーフマナ、二度生まれの中の最勝者は、午前に托鉢に出るべきである。クシャトリヤは正午に、ヴァイシャは午後に行うべし。

भवत्-पूर्वम्with 'bhavat' first (saying 'bhavat' before)
भवत्-पूर्वम्:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभवत्-पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक; भवत् + पूर्व)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial compound): भवतः पूर्वम् = before saying 'bhavat' (honorific)
चरेत्should practice/go about
चरेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootचर् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
भैक्ष्यम्alms-begging (alms round)
भैक्ष्यम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootभैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन
उपनीतःhaving been initiated
उपनीतः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
TypeVerb
Rootउप-नी (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'initiated' (upanayana performed)
द्विज-उत्तमःthe best of the twice-born (Brahmin)
द्विज-उत्तमः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + उत्तम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: उत्तमः द्विजः = best of the twice-born
भवत्-मध्यम्with 'bhavat' in the middle
भवत्-मध्यम्:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभवत्-मध्य (प्रातिपदिक; भवत् + मध्य)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास: भवतः मध्यम् = with 'bhavat' in the middle
तुbut
तु:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)
राजन्यःa Kṣatriya
राजन्यः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
वैश्यःa Vaiśya
वैश्यः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
तुand/but
तु:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विशेषार्थ (and/but)
भवत्-उत्तरम्with 'bhavat' last (saying it afterwards)
भवत्-उत्तरम्:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभवत्-उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; भवत् + उत्तर)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास: भवतः उत्तरम् = with 'bhavat' last/afterwards

A senior sage/instructor addressing the King (rājan) within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching dialogue frame

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

B
Brahmin (dvija)
K
Kshatriya (rajanya)
V
Vaishya (vaishya)
U
Upanayana
B
Bhiksha (alms)

FAQs

Indirectly: it teaches disciplined regulation of life (niyama) for the initiated; such ordered conduct purifies the mind, making it fit for Atman-knowledge taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

It emphasizes preparatory yogic discipline—moderation, humility, and regulated daily routine (a dharmic niyama). In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such self-control supports higher practices like mantra, japa, and contemplative worship.

Not explicitly; it provides shared dharmic groundwork. The Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis typically places such varnashrama discipline as a common foundation for devotion and yoga directed to the one Supreme, whether praised as Shiva or Vishnu.