Shloka 3

Agnihotra, Seasonal Śrauta Duties, and the Authority of Śruti–Smṛti–Purāṇa

Devanagari script

नानिष्ट्वा नवशस्येष्ट्या पशुना वाग्निमान् द्विजः / नवान्नमद्यान्मांसं वा दीर्घमायुर्जिजीविषुः

Transliteration

nāniṣṭvā navaśasyeṣṭyā paśunā vāgnimān dvijaḥ / navānnamadyānmāṃsaṃ vā dīrghamāyurjijīviṣuḥ

Translation

അഗ്നികളെ പാലിക്കുന്ന ദ്വിജ ഗൃഹസ്ഥൻ ദീർഘായുസ്സ് ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ, ആദ്യം നവശസ്യേഷ്ടിയും വിധിയുള്ളിടത്ത് പശു-ആഹുതിയും നടത്താതെ പുതിയ ധാന്യമോ മാംസമോ ഭക്ഷിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• aniṣṭvā: without performing (a sacrifice)
• aniṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), परस्मैपदी; ‘इष्ट्वा’ = having sacrificed; ‘अनिṣṭvā’ = without sacrificing

• nava-śasya-iṣṭyā: by the new-grain offering
• nava-śasya-iṣṭyā: Karaṇa (करणम्/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + śasya (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: नवशस्यस्य इष्टिः (sacrifice of new grain)

• paśunā: by (means of) an animal (victim)
• paśunā: Karaṇa (करणम्/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन

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

• agnimān: one who maintains the sacred fires
• agnimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (मतुप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; मतुपन्त-विशेषण (possessive adjective): ‘having (maintained) sacred fires’

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• nava-annam: newly harvested food
• nava-annam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: नवम् अन्नम् (new food/grain)

• adyāt: should eat
• adyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad (अद् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘he should eat’

• māṃsam: meat
• māṃsam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

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

• dīrgham: long
• dīrgham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying āyuḥ)

• āyuḥ: life, lifespan
• āyuḥ: Karma (कर्म/object of desire)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• jijīviṣuḥ: desiring to live
• jijīviṣuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīv (जीव् धातु) + इषु (इषु प्रत्यय)
• Form: इषु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (desiderative adjective: ‘wishing to live’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of dvijaḥ)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying dharma-instructions of the Kurma Purana tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Dvija
• Navaśasya-iṣṭi

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames longevity and disciplined living as dharmic supports for sustained sādhana; such restraint preserves the body-mind as an instrument for realizing the Self rather than treating enjoyment as the goal.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes niyama-like restraints (regulated diet and timing) tied to yajña and agni-maintenance; in the Kurma Purana’s broader soteriology, such ritual-discipline steadies the practitioner for mantra, japa, and contemplative practices aligned with Pāśupata-Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis.

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

Not explicitly; it shows the Purana’s integrative dharma framework where Vedic yajña, agni-discipline, and ethical restraint form a common ground that later supports the text’s non-sectarian (Śiva–Viṣṇu harmony) spiritual teaching.