Shloka 116

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

Devanagari script

भिक्षां वै भिक्षवे दद्याद् विधिवद् ब्रह्मचारिणे / दद्यादन्नं यथाशक्ति त्वर्थिभ्यो लोभवर्जितः

Transliteration

bhikṣāṃ vai bhikṣave dadyād vidhivad brahmacāriṇe / dadyādannaṃ yathāśakti tvarthibhyo lobhavarjitaḥ

Translation

ഭിക്ഷുവിന് ഭിക്ഷയും ബ്രഹ്മചാരിക്ക് വിധിപൂർവ്വം ദാനവും നൽകണം. ലോഭം വിട്ട് യാചകര്ക്കും തന്റെ ശേഷിയനുസരിച്ച് അന്നം നൽകണം.

Word by Word

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• भिक्षवे: to a mendicant/beggar
• भिक्षवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ब्रह्मचारिणे: to a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• यथा-शक्ति: according to one’s ability
• यथा-शक्ति: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• अर्थिभ्यः: to the needy/supplicants
• अर्थिभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन

• लोभ-वर्जितः: free from greed
• लोभ-वर्जितः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लोभेन वर्जितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Brahmacarin

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not define Ātman directly; it teaches the dharmic purification of the giver—freedom from greed and disciplined giving—supporting inner clarity that is traditionally considered conducive to Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No formal meditation technique is stated; the verse emphasizes yama-like ethical discipline—non-greed (alobha) and charity (dāna)—which functions as a preparatory foundation for Yoga and higher contemplation in the Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual program.

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

The verse is primarily about dāna and social-religious duty; within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such dharma is presented as aligned with devotion to the one Supreme Lord revered through both Shaiva and Vaishnava idioms, without sectarian conflict.