Shloka 4
Prayāga–Gaṅgā Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rules of Pilgrimage
Yātrā-vidhi
यस्तु पुत्रांस्तथा बालान् स्नापयेत् पाययेत् तथा / यथात्मना तथा सर्वान् दानं विप्रेषु दापयेत्
yastu putrāṃstathā bālān snāpayet pāyayet tathā / yathātmanā tathā sarvān dānaṃ vipreṣu dāpayet
ఎవడు తన కుమారులను, చిన్న పిల్లలను స్నానింపజేసి, త్రాగునీరు-ఆహారం ఇచ్చి, తనను తాను ఎలా చూసుకుంటాడో అలాగే అందరినీ పోషిస్తాడో—అతడు బ్రాహ్మణులకు దానమిచ్చేలా చేయాలి.
Suta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings as taught by Lord Kurma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
By using “yathātmanā” (treating others as oneself), the verse grounds dharma in an Atman-centered ethic: self-awareness becomes the measure for compassionate care and righteous giving.
No technique is prescribed directly; instead, it emphasizes the yamas-like ethical base—care, non-harm, and generosity—which the Kurma Purana treats as prerequisites that stabilize the mind for higher yoga, including Pashupata-oriented discipline.
It does so indirectly through shared dharma: the same ethical discipline and dana-support for sacred learning underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths in the Kurma Purana’s synthesis.