Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 57

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

उष्णमन्नं द्विजातिभ्यो दातव्यं श्रेय इच्छता / अन्यत्र फलमूलेभ्यः पानकेभ्यस्तथैव च

Transliteration

uṣṇamannaṃ dvijātibhyo dātavyaṃ śreya icchatā / anyatra phalamūlebhyaḥ pānakebhyastathaiva ca

Translation

ശ്രേയസ് (ആത്മിക മംഗളം) ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവൻ ദ്വിജാതികൾക്ക് ചൂടുള്ള, പുതുതായി പാകം ചെയ്ത അന്നം നൽകണം; എന്നാൽ ഫലം‑മൂലം, പാനകം (പാനീയം) എന്നിവയിൽ അപവാദമുണ്ട്—അവ മറ്റുവിധത്തിലും നൽകാം।

Word by Word

• उष्णम्: warm, hot
• उष्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (अन्नम्)

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

• द्विजातिभ्यः: to the twice-born (people)
• द्विजातिभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), बहुवचन

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory: ‘to be given’)

• श्रेयः: welfare, the good
• श्रेयः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; फल/उद्देश्य-रूपेण

• इच्छता: by one desiring
• इच्छता: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; कर्तृ-विशेषण (‘by one who desires’)

• अन्यत्र: except, otherwise
• अन्यत्र: Apavada (अपवाद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/अपवाद-अव्यय (adverb: ‘elsewhere/except’)

• फलमूलेभ्यः: from fruits and roots (i.e., except those)
• फलमूलेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (फलानि च मूलानि च)

• पानकेभ्यः: from drinks/sherbets
• पानकेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya-bhava (अव्ययभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle: emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma (dana/anna-dana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• dvija
• anna-dana
• pānaka

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Atman; it teaches dharma as a purifying support—right giving (especially anna-dana) refines the giver’s intention (śreyas) and prepares the mind for higher knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit meditation technique is taught; the verse highlights disciplined charity and purity in offering, an ethical foundation comparable to yama/niyama that supports later Shaiva-Vaishnava yogic teaching in the Kurma Purana.

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

It does not explicitly mention Shiva-Vishnu unity; it reflects the shared dharmic ground upheld across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams—purity, right intention, and service—forming a common basis for later synthesis in the Purana.