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Shloka 49

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

विद्या कर्म वयो बन्धुर्वित्तं भवति पञ्चमम् / मान्यस्थानानि पञ्चाहुः पूर्वं पूर्वं गुरूत्तरात्

vidyā karma vayo bandhurvittaṃ bhavati pañcamam / mānyasthānāni pañcāhuḥ pūrvaṃ pūrvaṃ gurūttarāt

கல்வி, நற்கருமம் (ஒழுக்கம்), வயது, உறவுத்தொடர், செல்வம்—இவை மரியாதையின் ஐந்து அடிப்படைகள். இவற்றில் முன்னிருப்பது பின்னிருப்பதைவிட மேலானதும் முன்னுரிமைக்குரியதும் ஆகும்.

विद्याlearning, knowledge
विद्या:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
कर्मaction, work
कर्म:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
वयःage
वयः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
बन्धुःkinsman, relative
बन्धुः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootबन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
वित्तम्wealth
वित्तम्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
भवतिis, becomes
भवति:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
पञ्चमम्the fifth
पञ्चमम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to implied पदम्/स्थानम्
मान्यस्थानानिplaces/grounds of honor
मान्यस्थानानि:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमान्य-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; मान्य + स्थान)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): मान्यस्य स्थानानि = places of honor
पञ्चfive
पञ्च:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द (indeclinable-like numeral used adjectivally); here qualifying 'मान्यस्थानानि' (plural)
आहुःthey say, declare
आहुः:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootअह्/ब्रू (धातु; आह इति रूपम्)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)
पूर्वम्earlier, prior
पूर्वम्:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
पूर्वम्earlier (each preceding)
पूर्वम्:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (Avyaya), पुनरुक्ति (repetition) for emphasis
गुरु-उत्तरात्than the later one; from the subsequent (in order)
गुरु-उत्तरात्:
Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु-उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; गुरु + उत्तर)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: गुरोः उत्तरम् = the later one (in sequence)

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and social order

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

L
Lord Kurma
V
Vishnu
D
Dharma

FAQs

It does not directly define Ātman; it lays a dharmic hierarchy of respect, implying that inner refinement through knowledge and right conduct is superior to external markers like lineage and wealth.

No specific yogic technique is named, but the prioritizing of vidyā and karma aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader discipline: purification through right understanding and ethical action as a foundation for higher yoga (including Pāśupata-oriented practice).

The verse is primarily ethical rather than sectarian; in the Kurma Purana’s synthetic outlook, such dharma-teachings function as a shared groundwork upon which both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava devotion and realization are built.