Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम् / भिक्षेत भिक्षां प्रथमं या चैनं न विमानयेत्

Transliteration

mātaraṃ vā svasāraṃ vā māturvā bhaginīṃ nijām / bhikṣeta bhikṣāṃ prathamaṃ yā cainaṃ na vimānayet

Translation

അവൻ ആദ്യം മാതാവിനോടോ, സ്വന്തം സഹോദരിയോടോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മാതാവിന്റെ സഹോദരിയോടോ ഭിക്ഷ ചോദിക്കണം—അവൾ അവനെ അവമാനിക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ।

Word by Word

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: “or”)

• svasāram: sister
• svasāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• mātuḥ: of (one’s) mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (sg.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• bhaginīm: sister
• bhaginīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaginī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• nijām: one’s own
• nijām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) qualifying ‘bhaginīm’

• bhikṣeta: should beg
• bhikṣeta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhikṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—याचेत् (should beg)

• bhikṣām: alms
• bhikṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative: “first/at first”)

• yā: who (she who)
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: “and”)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/सामान्य (pronoun), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• vimānayet: should disrespect/insult
• vimānayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mān (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—अवमानं न कुर्यात् (should not disrespect)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma and disciplined living

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• mother
• sister
• maternal aunt

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames self-discipline and freedom from humiliation/ego-injury as part of dharmic living, which supports inner steadiness needed for realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct meditation technique is given; the verse highlights ethical restraint and regulated sustenance (bhiksha-niyama), a practical discipline that stabilizes the mind and supports Yoga practice.

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

It does not explicitly address Shiva–Vishnu unity; it contributes to the shared dharmic foundation valued across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams that the Kurma Purana harmonizes.