Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

अग्निहोत्रात् परो धर्मो द्विजानां नेह विद्यते / तस्मादाराधयेन्नित्यमग्निहोत्रेण शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

agnihotrāt paro dharmo dvijānāṃ neha vidyate / tasmādārādhayennityamagnihotreṇa śāśvatam

Translation

இவ்வுலகில் இருமுறை பிறந்தோர்க்கு அக்னிஹோத்ரத்தை விட உயர்ந்த தர்மம் இல்லை. ஆகவே அக்னிஹோத்ர யாகத்தால் நித்தம் சாச்வதனாகிய (இறைவனை) வழிபட வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• अग्निहोत्रात्: than agnihotra
• अग्निहोत्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (अग्नौ होत्रम्)

• परः: higher
• परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मः)

• धर्मः: duty/dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विजानाम्: of the twice-born
• द्विजानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्ग (here/in this world)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘exists/is found’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (therefore)

• आराधयेत्: should worship
• आराधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+राध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adv)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (accusative used adverbially): always

• अग्निहोत्रेण: by agnihotra
• अग्निहोत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष

• शाश्वतम्: the eternal (Lord)
• शाश्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (परमेश्वरम्/ईश्वरम्—अध्याहृत)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on varnashrama-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agnihotra
• Dvija
• Dharma
• Shashvata (the Eternal Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Eternal (śāśvata) as the proper object of worship; the highest dharma is framed as steady devotion to the timeless Lord, approached through disciplined daily duty rather than mere theory.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes nitya-karma as a yogic discipline: regular Agnihotra cultivates steadiness, purity, and one-pointed reverence—supporting inner yoga (self-control and concentration) through outer ritual order.

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

By focusing on worship of the Eternal through Vedic yajña, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic stance: the same supreme reality is honored through orthodox rites, harmonizing sectarian forms (Śaiva/Vaiṣṇava) under one dharma.