Shloka 18

Bhojana-vidhi and Nitya-karman: Directions for Eating, Prāṇa-Oblations, Sandhyā, and Conduct Leading to Apavarga

Devanagari script

आत्मार्थं भोजनं यस्य रत्यर्थं यस्य मैथुनम् / वृत्यर्थं यस्य चाधीतं निष्फलं तस्य जीवितम्

Transliteration

ātmārthaṃ bhojanaṃ yasya ratyarthaṃ yasya maithunam / vṛtyarthaṃ yasya cādhītaṃ niṣphalaṃ tasya jīvitam

Translation

ആരുടെയോ ഭക്ഷണം വെറും സ്വാർത്ഥത്തിനായി, ആരുടെയോ മൈഥുനം വെറും ഭോഗത്തിനായി, ആരുടെയോ പഠനം വെറും ഉപജീവനത്തിനായി മാത്രമെങ്കിൽ—അവന്റെ ജീവിതം നിഷ്ഫലം.

Word by Word

• ātma-artham: for oneself
• ātma-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः) ‘आत्मनः/आत्माय अर्थः’ = for oneself

• bhojanam: eating/food-taking
• bhojanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• rati-artham: for pleasure
• rati-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘रतेः अर्थः’ = for pleasure

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• maithunam: sexual intercourse
• maithunam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• vṛtti-artham: for livelihood
• vṛtti-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘वृत्तेः अर्थः’ = for livelihood

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• adhītam: study/learning (studied)
• adhītam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-ī (अधि-इ धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘अधीतम्’ = studied/learned

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Karta (कर्ता/प्रेडिकेटिव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• tasya: of that person
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and the higher aim (puruṣārtha) beyond mere artha and kāma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Dharma
• Puruṣārtha
• Śāstra
• Vṛtti
• Kāma
• Artha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that life becomes meaningful only when actions are oriented beyond narrow self-interest toward dharma and inner realization; otherwise, even basic acts like eating, pleasure, and study remain spiritually barren.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to vairāgya (dispassion) and right intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi) as prerequisites for Yoga: learning and living should support sādhana and liberation rather than serving only pleasure or livelihood.

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

By stressing dharma and liberation-oriented living—central to both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva paths—it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance where devotion and discipline converge toward one Supreme Reality.