Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 69

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

अपूपं च हिरण्यं च गामश्वं पृथिवीं तिलान् / अविद्वान् प्रतिगृह्णानो भस्मी भवति काष्ठवत्

Transliteration

apūpaṃ ca hiraṇyaṃ ca gāmaśvaṃ pṛthivīṃ tilān / avidvān pratigṛhṇāno bhasmī bhavati kāṣṭhavat

Translation

जो अविद्वान व अयोग्य मनुष्य अपूप, सुवर्ण, गाय-घोडे, जमीन किंवा तीळ यांचे दान स्वीकारतो, तो लाकडासारखा भस्म होऊन नष्ट होतो।

Word by Word

• अपूपम्: cake/food offering
• अपूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• हिरण्यम्: gold
• हिरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular feminine (irregular stem go-)

• अश्वम्: a horse
• अश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• पृथिवीम्: land/earth (property)
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural masculine

• अविद्वान्: an ignorant man
• अविद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; नञ्-पूर्वक (avidvān = ignorant)

• प्रतिगृह्णानः: accepting (as a gift)
• प्रतिगृह्णानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; present active participle (taking/accepting)

• भस्मी: ashes
• भस्मी: Karma (कर्म/परिणाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (भस्मी-भवति = becomes ashes)

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present indicative 3rd sg

• काष्ठवत्: like wood
• काष्ठवत्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त); adverbial ‘like’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma (dāna and adhikāra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• dāna (charity)
• adhikāra (eligibility)
• tiladāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it stresses inner qualification and purity over mere external acquisition—without discernment (vidyā), one’s conduct binds and destroys, whereas knowledge and fitness support liberation-oriented living.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to yama-like discipline—restraint and purity in livelihood and acceptance (aparigraha/ethical non-grasping). In Kurma Purana’s yogic ethos, such ethical clarity is a foundation for higher practice and mantra-japa/meditation.

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

By presenting dharma as a shared, universal discipline taught by Lord Kurma: ethical purification and eligibility (adhikāra) are prerequisites valued across Shaiva-Pashupata and Vaishnava paths, reflecting the Purana’s integrative stance.