Shloka 23

Śrāddha-Kāla-Nirṇaya: Proper Times, Nakṣatra Fruits, Tīrtha Merit, and Offerings for Ancestral Rites

Devanagari script

द्रव्यब्राह्मणसंपत्तौ न कालनियमः कृतः / तस्माद् भोगापवर्गार्थं श्राद्धं कुर्युर्द्विजातयः

Transliteration

dravyabrāhmaṇasaṃpattau na kālaniyamaḥ kṛtaḥ / tasmād bhogāpavargārthaṃ śrāddhaṃ kuryurdvijātayaḥ

Translation

ദ്രവ്യസമ്പത്തും യോഗ്യബ്രാഹ്മണരുടെ ലഭ്യതയും ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ കാലനിയമം നിശ്ചയിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. അതിനാൽ ഭോഗവും അപവർഗവും—ഇരുവർക്കുമായി ദ്വിജന്മാർ ശ്രാദ്ധം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• द्रव्य-ब्राह्मण-संपत्तौ: in the availability of wealth and Brahmins
• द्रव्य-ब्राह्मण-संपत्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + संपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्रव्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य च संपत्तिः/संपत्तौ)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• काल-नियमः: restriction of time
• काल-नियमः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य नियमः)

• कृतः: made/established
• कृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate participle)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्—हेतौ/तस्मादिति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverbial)

• भोग-अपवर्ग-अर्थम्: for enjoyment and liberation
• भोग-अपवर्ग-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अर्थम् इति द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (purpose adverbial)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुर्युः: should perform
• कुर्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष?—न; मध्यम/उत्तम?—न; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• द्विजातयः: the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातयः: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma teaching on śrāddha (ancestral rites)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Śrāddha
• Dvija
• Bhoga
• Apavarga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that liberation (apavarga) is supported by dharmic action such as śrāddha; disciplined karma done with the higher aim becomes a means that purifies and turns one toward realization of the Self beyond worldly bhoga.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditation technique is named; the verse emphasizes karma aligned with dharma—performing pitṛ-yajña (śrāddha) when proper means and worthy Brāhmaṇas are available—framing ritual duty as supportive of inner purification that complements Yoga and higher knowledge.

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

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; its synthesis is practical—upholding śrāddha as dharma that can lead to apavarga, consistent with the Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava framework where right action and devotion ultimately serve liberation.