Shloka 4

Vānaprastha-Dharma: Forest Discipline, Vaikhānasa Austerities, and Śiva-Āśrama as the Liberative Refuge

Devanagari script

फलमूलानि पूतानि नित्यमाहारमाहरेत् / यताहारो भवेत् तेन पूजयेत् पितृदेवताः

Transliteration

phalamūlāni pūtāni nityamāhāramāharet / yatāhāro bhavet tena pūjayet pitṛdevatāḥ

Translation

ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ച ഫലങ്ങളും മൂലങ്ങളും നിത്യാഹാരമായി സ്വീകരിക്കണം. യതാഹാരനായിട്ട്, അതേ പവിത്ര ആഹാരത്താൽ പിതൃദേവതകളെ പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• phala-mūlāni: fruits and roots
• phala-mūlāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); itaretara-dvandva (फलानि च मूलानि च)

• pūtāni: purified/clean
• pūtāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying 'phalamūlāni'

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial accusative (नित्यं)

• āhāram: food
• āhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āharet: should take/bring (for eating)
• āharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yata-āhāraḥ: one with restrained diet
• yata-āhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yata (प्रातिपदिक) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: yataḥ āhāraḥ yasya (restricted in diet)

• bhavet: should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tena: by that/thereby
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitṛ-devatāḥ: the Pitṛ-deities (ancestors)
• pitṛ-devatāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: pitṝṇāṃ devatāḥ (those deities, i.e., the Pitṛs)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in dharma related to Pitṛs and śrāddha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Pitṛdevatāḥ

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it teaches that inner purity is supported by disciplined intake (āhāra-śuddhi); such purity steadies the mind for dharma and for higher knowledge that culminates in realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights yatāhāra (regulated diet), a foundational yogic restraint that supports śauca (purity) and mental clarity—prerequisites for mantra, worship, and meditation described across the Kurma Purana’s yoga-dharma teachings.

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

While not naming Śiva explicitly, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: disciplined purity and ritual duty (such as honoring the Pitṛs) are upheld as universally valid supports for both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva-yogic attainment.