Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

यो ऽर्चितं प्रतिगृह्णीयाद् दद्यादर्चितमेव च / तावुभौ गच्छतः स्वर्गं नरकं तु विपर्यये

Transliteration

yo 'rcitaṃ pratigṛhṇīyād dadyādarcitameva ca / tāvubhau gacchataḥ svargaṃ narakaṃ tu viparyaye

Translation

மரியாதையுடன் பூஜிக்கப்பட்ட/ஸம்ஸ்கரிக்கப்பட்ட தானத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வோனும், அதேபோல் பூஜிக்கப்பட்ட தானமே அளிப்போனும்—இருவரும் ஸ்வர்க்கம் அடைவர்; மாறாகச் செய்தால் (பூஜையில்லாததை கொடுக்க/எடுக்க) நரகம் உண்டாகும்.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• अर्चितम्: (a gift) duly honored
• अर्चितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) used substantively: ‘(a gift) that has been honored/worshipped’

• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: should accept
• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• अर्चितम्: honored/duly worshipped
• अर्चितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying (implicit) दानम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात) = ‘indeed/only’

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय) = ‘and’

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; ‘those two’

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; in apposition to तौ

• गच्छतः: go
• गच्छतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual; Parasmaipada

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• नरकम्: to hell
• नरकम्: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle (निपात)

• विपर्यये: in the opposite case
• विपर्यये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the reverse case’

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Purana discourse context; teaching on dana-dharma as transmitted in the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that dharma expressed through sanctified giving/receiving purifies the mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi), which is a prerequisite for steady knowledge of the Self in the Kurma Purana’s broader soteriology.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct yogic technique is stated; the verse supports Yoga by emphasizing purity of offering and intention—ethical discipline (yama-like restraint) that stabilizes sādhana, a recurring foundation for later Kurma Purana teachings on higher practice.

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

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu, but it reflects the Purana’s synthesis by grounding liberation-oriented practice in shared dharma: sanctified worship and right conduct are upheld as universally binding, irrespective of sectarian form.