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Shloka 11

Karma-yoga Discipline for the Twice-born: Upanayana, Upavīta Conduct, Guru-veneration, and Alms-regimen

सव्यं बाहुं समुद्धृत्य दक्षिणे तु धृतं द्विजाः / प्राचीनावीतमित्युक्तं पित्र्ये कर्मणि योजयेत्

savyaṃ bāhuṃ samuddhṛtya dakṣiṇe tu dhṛtaṃ dvijāḥ / prācīnāvītamityuktaṃ pitrye karmaṇi yojayet

โอทวิชทั้งหลาย ยกแขนซ้ายขึ้นแล้วสวมสายยัชโญปวีตไว้ที่บ่าขวา เรียกว่า ปราจีนาวีต; พึงใช้ในพิธีกรรมเพื่อบรรพชน (ปิตฤกรรม)

savyamleft
savyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootsavya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of bāhum
bāhumarm
bāhum:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
samuddhṛtyahaving lifted
samuddhṛtya:
Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ud-√hṛ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
Formअव्ययकृदन्त (ल्यप्), ‘having lifted up’
dakṣiṇeon the right
dakṣiṇe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘on the right (side/shoulder)’
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
dhṛtamworn/held
dhṛtam:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dhṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘held/worn’
dvijāḥO twice-born (Brahmins)
dvijāḥ:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे/कर्तृवाचक (addressing the twice-born)
prācīna-āvītamprācīnāvīta (reverse wearing of the thread)
prācīna-āvītam:
Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootprācīna + āvīta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (प्राचीनं च तत् आवीतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; name of the mode
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण/इति-शब्द (quotative particle)
uktamis called/said
uktam:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is called/said’
pitryein rites for the ancestors
pitrye:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpitrya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषण of karmaṇi (in ancestral rite)
karmaṇiin the ritual/action
karmaṇi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन
yojayetshould employ/apply
yojayet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√yuj (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense not marked here—simple ‘should apply/use’

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-vidhi to the sages

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

P
Pitṛs (ancestors)
D
Dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

This verse is primarily procedural (dharma-vidhi) rather than metaphysical; it emphasizes disciplined performance of pitṛ-karmas, which in Purāṇic thought supports inner purity (śuddhi) that becomes a foundation for Atman-knowledge.

No direct yogic technique is taught here; the focus is karma-śuddhi through correct ritual conduct—an auxiliary discipline that the Kurma Purana frequently treats as supportive to higher sādhanā such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation.

The verse itself does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s synthesis where proper dharma (including pitṛ-rites) complements devotion to Īśvara, whether approached through Śaiva or Vaiṣṇava forms.