Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

शूद्रप्रेष्यो भृतो राज्ञो वृषलो ग्रामयाजकः / बधबन्धोपजीवी च षडेते ब्रह्मबन्धवः

Transliteration

śūdrapreṣyo bhṛto rājño vṛṣalo grāmayājakaḥ / badhabandhopajīvī ca ṣaḍete brahmabandhavaḥ

Translation

ಶೂದ್ರನ ಆಜ್ಞೆಗೆ ಒಳಪಡುವವನು, ರಾಜನ ವೇತನಭೃತ ಸೇವಕನು, ಪತಿತ ‘ವೃಷಲ’, ಜೀವನಾರ್ಥ ಗ್ರಾಮಯಾಜಕನಾಗಿ ಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿಸುವವನು, ಹಾಗೂ ವಧ ಅಥವಾ ಬಂಧನ-ಕಾರಾಗಾರದಿಂದ ಬದುಕುವವನು—ಈ ಆರು ಜನ ‘ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಬಂಧು’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ।

Word by Word

• śūdra-preṣyaḥ: a Śūdra’s servant (one sent by a Śūdra)
• śūdra-preṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + preṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śūdrasya preṣyaḥ)

• bhṛtaḥ: hired, maintained (as a servant)
• bhṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भृत’ = hired/maintained

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• vṛṣalaḥ: a low-born/impure person (vṛṣala)
• vṛṣalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• grāma-yājakaḥ: village priest (one who officiates for a village)
• grāma-yājakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक) + yājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (grāmasya yājakaḥ)

• badha-bandha-upajīvī: one who lives by killing and imprisoning
• badha-bandha-upajīvī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: badha (प्रातिपदिक) + bandha (प्रातिपदिक) + upajīvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार/द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (badha-bandha) + षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (badha-bandhayor upajīvī)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (used with plural ‘ete’)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• brahma-bandhavaḥ: kinsmen of Brahmins (Brahmin by relation only)
• brahma-bandhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇo bandhavaḥ)

Speaker

Traditional narration in the Purva-bhaga dharma-teaching context (didactic voice attributed in the Kurma Purana’s discourse framework, commonly presented as authoritative instruction within the Purana).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Śūdra
• rājā (king)
• brahma-bandhu

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily ethical and social rather than metaphysical: it defines ‘brahma-bandhu’ as a status of conduct (ācāra) rather than inner realization. Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s broader principle that spiritual authority requires inner discipline and dharmic life, not merely birth or external identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is stated here. The verse aligns with preparatory yogic discipline (yama/niyama-like restraints) by stressing purity of livelihood and conduct—foundational prerequisites for higher sādhanā discussed elsewhere in the Kurma Purana, including Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis and Pashupata-oriented practice.

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

The verse does not explicitly mention Shiva or Vishnu. Its contribution is thematic: it reinforces dharma as the shared ground for Shaiva-Vaishnava spiritual life in the Kurma Purana—where right conduct and right livelihood are treated as necessary supports for devotion and yogic realization.