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Shloka 17

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

श्रौतस्त्रेताग्निसंबन्धात् स्मार्तः पूर्वं मयोदितः / श्रेयस्करतमः श्रौतस्तस्माच्छ्रौतं समाचरेत्

śrautastretāgnisaṃbandhāt smārtaḥ pūrvaṃ mayoditaḥ / śreyaskaratamaḥ śrautastasmācchrautaṃ samācaret

శ్రౌతధర్మం త్రేతాగ్నులతో సంబంధమైంది; స్మార్తధర్మాన్ని నేను ముందే చెప్పితిని. శ్రౌతమార్గమే పరమశ్రేయస్కరం; కాబట్టి విధివిధానంగా శ్రౌతకర్మలను ఆచరించాలి.

śrautaḥthe Śrauta (Vedic) [dharma]
śrautaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootśrauta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject/predicate in context
tretāgni-saṃbandhātfrom (its) connection with the three fires
tretāgni-saṃbandhāt:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Roottretāgni + saṃbandha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: tretāgni-saṃbandha = connection with the three sacred fires
smārtaḥthe Smārta (Smṛti-based) [dharma]
smārtaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsmārta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
pūrvamformerly
pūrvam:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpūrvam (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक): 'formerly/earlier'
mayāby me
mayā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFirst person pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
uditaḥdeclared
uditaḥ:
Kriya/Visheshana (क्रिया/विशेषण)
TypeVerb
Root√vad (वद्) with ud- (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'spoken/declared' (predicate/qualifier)
śreyas-karatamaḥmost beneficial
śreyas-karatamaḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśreyas + kara + tama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; superlative; tatpuruṣa: śreyasaḥ karaḥ = producing the best; + tama = most
śrautaḥthe Śrauta (Vedic) [dharma]
śrautaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootśrauta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate: 'the śrauta is most beneficial'
tasmāttherefore
tasmāt:
Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; connective: 'therefore'
śrautamthe Śrauta (Vedic practice)
śrautam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśrauta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'samācaret'
samācaretshould practice
samācaret:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-√car (चर्) (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada; 'should practice/undertake'

Lord Kūrma (as narrator-teacher of dharma)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

T
Tretāgni (three sacred fires)
Ś
Śrauta-dharma
S
Smārta-dharma
Ś
Śreyas

FAQs

Indirectly: it prioritizes śreyas (highest spiritual welfare) and presents disciplined Vedic action (śrauta-karma) as a purifying support that orients the practitioner toward the highest good, which culminates in Self-realization.

This verse emphasizes karma-discipline rather than a specific meditation technique: maintaining the tretāgni and performing śrauta rites as a regulated sādhana that steadies the mind, purifies intention, and complements later yogic contemplation taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

It reflects the Purana’s synthesis by valuing orthodox Vedic discipline (often shared across Shaiva–Vaishnava traditions) as a common foundation for spiritual ascent; the focus is on śreyas through dharma rather than sectarian opposition.