Shloka 2

Āvāhāryaka-Śrāddha: Qualifications of Recipients, Paṅkti-Pāvana, and Exclusions

Devanagari script

पूर्वमेव परीक्षेत ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम् / तीर्थं तद् हव्यकव्यानां प्रदाने चातिथिः स्मृतः

Transliteration

pūrvameva parīkṣeta brāhmaṇaṃ vedapāragam / tīrthaṃ tad havyakavyānāṃ pradāne cātithiḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

ಮೊದಲು ವೇದಪಾರಂಗತ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ ನಿಶ್ಚಯಿಸಬೇಕು. ಹವ್ಯ-ಕವ್ಯ ದಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನು ತೀರ್ಥಸ್ವರೂಪನೆಂದು ಸ್ಮೃತ; ದಾನಕರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನೇ ನಿಜವಾದ ಅತಿಥಿ.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• परीक्षेत: should examine
• परीक्षेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; should examine

• ब्राह्मणम्: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• वेदपारगम्: one who has mastered the Veda
• वेदपारगम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-पारग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्राह्मणम् विशेषण

• तीर्थम्: a sacred/receptacle (worthy place/person)
• तीर्थम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here predicate nominative/accusative in apposition

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; deictic pronoun referring to that (brāhmaṇa)

• हव्यकव्यानाम्: of offerings to gods and ancestors (havyas and kavyas)
• हव्यकव्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य-कव्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• प्रदाने: in the act of giving
• प्रदाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अतिथिः: a guest
• अतिथिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• स्मृतः: is remembered/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा-एकवचन; predicate: 'is considered'

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching in the sages’ assembly

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Veda
• Tīrtha
• Havya
• Kavya
• Atithi

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames dharma as purification—right discernment (parīkṣā) and sacred intention make one’s offerings a ‘tīrtha’ (a purifier). This ethical purification is treated in the Purāṇic worldview as supportive for inner clarity that leads toward Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yogic technique is taught; the practice emphasized is dharmic discipline—discernment, purity of giving, and honoring the worthy. In the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual program, such niyama-like conduct supports steadiness of mind for higher sādhanā (including Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation).

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

This verse is primarily about Vaidika-dharma (havya-kavya and hospitality) rather than sectarian theology. In the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such Vedic duties are shared foundations for both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths, preparing the devotee for devotion to Īśvara in either form.