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

Seorang dwija (dua kali lahir) yang berumah tangga dan memelihara api suci, demi menginginkan umur panjang, janganlah memakan bijirin baharu atau daging sebelum terlebih dahulu melaksanakan upacara musim dengan hasil pertama (nava-śasya) dan, jika ditetapkan, persembahan korban haiwan.

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.