Āvāhāryaka-Śrāddha: Qualifications of Recipients, Paṅkti-Pāvana, and Exclusions
तस्माद् यत्नेन योगीन्द्रमीश्वरज्ञानतत्परम् / भोजयेद् हव्यकव्येषु अलाभादितरान् द्विजान्
tasmād yatnena yogīndramīśvarajñānatatparam / bhojayed havyakavyeṣu alābhāditarān dvijān
ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಹವ್ಯ‑ಕವ್ಯ ಕರ್ಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈಶ್ವರಜ್ಞಾನಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಷ್ಠನಾದ ಯೋಗೀಂದ್ರನನ್ನು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಭೋಜನಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು; ಅವನು ಲಭ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಇತರ ದ್ವಿಜರನ್ನು ಭೋಜನಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು।
Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (in the Kurma Purana’s dharma discourse)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
It prioritizes one who is steadfast in Īśvara-jñāna (knowledge of the Lord), implying that spiritual realization and God-knowledge are superior qualifications—more central than mere birth or ritual status.
The verse highlights the ideal recipient as a “yogīndra,” indicating a practitioner established in yoga and contemplation, whose inner discipline culminates in Īśvara-jñāna; such yogic attainment is treated as the highest eligibility in ritual contexts.
By centering the criterion on Īśvara-jñāna (knowledge of the one Lord), it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis where the supreme Īśvara is approached through yoga and devotion beyond sectarian boundaries, consistent with the text’s Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava harmonizing tone.