Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

न वार्यपि प्रयच्छेत नास्तिके हैतुके ऽपि च / पाषण्डेषु च सर्वेषु नावेदविदि धर्मवित्

Transliteration

na vāryapi prayaccheta nāstike haituke 'pi ca / pāṣaṇḍeṣu ca sarveṣu nāvedavidi dharmavit

Translation

法を知る者は、たとえ巧みに論を立てる無神論者（ナースティカ）であっても、水一滴すら与えるべきではない。また一切のパーシャṇḍa（異端の徒）や、ヴェーダに通じぬ者にも与えてはならない。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• वारि: water
• वारि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• प्रयच्छेत: should give
• प्रयच्छेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-यम् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• आस्तिके: to/for an atheist
• आस्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in/for an atheist’ (context: recipient)

• हैतुके: a mere logician
• हैतुके: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifying आस्तिके (intended: nāstike) meaning ‘argumentative/logic-chopping’

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

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• पाषण्डेषु: among heretics
• पाषण्डेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• सर्वेषु: all
• सर्वेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; qualifying पाषण्डेषु

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• अवेद-विदि: to one ignorant of the Veda
• अवेद-विदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) (णिनि/इनि-प्रत्यय: विदिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; नञ्-तत्पुरुष: ‘one who does not know the Veda’

• धर्म-वित्: a knower of dharma
• धर्म-वित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) (क्विप्/प्रातिपदिक: वित्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘knower of dharma’ (subject implied)

Speaker

Traditional narration within the Purāṇic discourse (dāna-dharma instruction attributed to the teaching voice of the text, commonly framed as Lord Kūrma’s dharma-upadeśa to the interlocutors).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• nāstika
• pāṣaṇḍa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes śāstra-pramāṇa (Vedic authority) as the reliable means for dharma, implying that right conduct supporting Self-realization must be guided by Veda-based discipline rather than denialism or mere disputation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific āsana or meditation is taught here; the verse supports the yogic foundation of yama–niyama through dharmic discernment (patra–apatra-viveka), insisting that spiritual life and right giving align with Vedic injunctions.

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

It does not mention Śiva–Viṣṇu explicitly; its emphasis is on Veda-grounded dharma, a shared foundation in the Kūrma Purāṇa’s broader Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis where devotion and discipline are validated through śāstric authority.