Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

पितामहेन विप्राणामादावभिहितः शुभः / धर्मो विमुक्तये साक्षाच्छ्रौतः स्मार्तो द्विधा पुनः

Transliteration

pitāmahena viprāṇāmādāvabhihitaḥ śubhaḥ / dharmo vimuktaye sākṣācchrautaḥ smārto dvidhā punaḥ

Translation

ఆదిలో పితామహుడు బ్రహ్మా విప్రుల కొరకు శుభకరమైన ధర్మాన్ని ఉపదేశించాడు; అది సాక్షాత్ విముక్తికి కారణం. అది మరల రెండు విధాలు—శ్రౌతం మరియు స్మార్తం.

Word by Word

• pitāmahena: by Pitāmaha (Brahmā/grandsire)
• pitāmahena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• viprāṇām: of the Brahmins
• viprāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ādau: at first
• ādau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādau (अव्यय/निपातवत्)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रमवाचक): 'in the beginning/at first'

• abhihitaḥ: was declared/taught
• abhihitaḥ: Kriya/Visheshana (क्रिया/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhā (धा) (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'dharmaḥ'

• śubhaḥ: auspicious
• śubhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'dharmaḥ'

• dharmaḥ: dharma, religious duty
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vimuktaye: for liberation
• vimuktaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative

• sākṣāt: directly
• sākṣāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle: 'directly, manifestly'

• śrautaḥ: Vedic (based on Śruti)
• śrautaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrauta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate/qualifier of 'dharmaḥ'

• smārtaḥ: Smṛti-based
• smārtaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate/qualifier of 'dharmaḥ'

• dvidhā: twofold
• dvidhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb: 'in two ways'

• punaḥ: again, further
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb: 'again/further'

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the traditional teaching ascribed to Brahmā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Śruti
• Smṛti
• Mokṣa

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberation (vimukti/mokṣa) as the goal of Dharma, implying that right practice—rooted in Śruti and Smṛti—purifies and prepares one for direct realization of the Self beyond ritual and social identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse does not detail a specific yogic technique; it establishes the doctrinal foundation that liberation is approached through disciplined Dharma in two streams—Śrauta (Vedic rites) and Smārta (ethical and daily observances)—which elsewhere in the Kurma Purana mature into inner practices such as devotion, restraint, and contemplative knowledge.

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

It does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu directly; instead it presents a shared, pan-Vedic framework of Dharma leading to mokṣa—an umbrella under which the Kurma Purana later harmonizes Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion to the Supreme).