Shloka 43

Cosmic Manifestation, Mahāmāyā’s Mandate, Varṇāśrama-Dharma, and the Unity of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

भिक्षाचर्या च शुश्रूषा गुरोः स्वाध्याय एव च / सन्ध्याकर्माग्निकार्यं च धर्मो ऽयं ब्रह्मचारिणाम्

Transliteration

bhikṣācaryā ca śuśrūṣā guroḥ svādhyāya eva ca / sandhyākarmāgnikāryaṃ ca dharmo 'yaṃ brahmacāriṇām

Translation

การออกบิณฑบาตตามวินัย การปรนนิบัติครูอาจารย์ด้วยภักดี และการสวดศึกษาด้วยตน; พร้อมทั้งพิธีสันธยาและการงานเกี่ยวกับไฟศักดิ์สิทธิ์—นี่คือธรรมของพรหมจารี

Word by Word

• भिक्षा-चर्या: practice of begging
• भिक्षा-चर्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भिक्षायाः चर्या)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• शुश्रूषा: service (attendance)
• शुश्रूषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• सन्ध्या-कर्म-अग्नि-कार्यम्: twilight rites and fire duties
• सन्ध्या-कर्म-अग्नि-कार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative): ‘सन्ध्याकर्म च अग्निकार्यं च’

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

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

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मचारिणाम्: of students (brahmacārins)
• ब्रह्मचारिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Traditional narrator of the Kurma Purana (instructional discourse on varṇāśrama-dharma; framed within the Purana’s sage-to-sage narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Brahmacarin
• Agni
• Sandhya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it lays the preparatory discipline of brahmacarya—purifying conduct, study, and daily rites—traditionally understood as foundational for later realization of the Self through śravaṇa (learning) and inner practice.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights discipline supportive of Yoga: svādhyāya (scriptural recitation/self-study) and sandhyā-karma (daily twilight worship with mantra-japa and contemplation). These cultivate steadiness, purity, and attentiveness—key prerequisites for higher meditative practice described elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

This specific verse is dharma-focused and does not explicitly address Śiva–Viṣṇu unity; however, by emphasizing orthodox daily rites and disciplined living, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where shared Vedic observances underpin both Śaiva (including Pāśupata-oriented) and Vaiṣṇava paths.