Shloka 28

Snātaka and Gṛhastha-Dharma: Conduct, Marriage Norms, Daily Rites, and Liberating Virtues

Devanagari script

एतस्मान्न प्रमाद्येत विशेषेण द्विजोत्तमः / यथाशक्तिं चरन् कर्म निन्दितानि विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

etasmānna pramādyeta viśeṣeṇa dvijottamaḥ / yathāśaktiṃ caran karma ninditāni vivarjayet

Translation

ฉะนั้นทวิชผู้ประเสริฐพึงอย่าประมาทเป็นพิเศษในข้อนี้ ปฏิบัติหน้าที่ตามกำลัง และเว้นกรรมที่ถูกติเตียน

Word by Word

• एतस्मात्: from this (path/discipline)
• एतस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• प्रमाद्येत: should not be negligent
• प्रमाद्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√मद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘be negligent/err’

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (instrumental used adverbially)

• द्विजोत्तमः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावः—‘द्विजानाम् उत्तमः’

• यथाशक्तिम्: according to one’s ability
• यथाशक्तिम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्ययत्वेन क्रियाविशेषण

• चरन्: practicing/performing
• चरन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent—participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + शतृ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि—‘while practicing’

• कर्म: duty/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• निन्दितानि: blameworthy (acts)
• निन्दितानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निन्दित (प्रातिपदिक; √निन्द् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘blameworthy’ (agreeing with implied ‘कर्माणि’)

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the inquirer within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (twice-born)
• Varnashrama Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined, non-negligent dharmic conduct as the necessary foundation for inner clarity, without which realization of the Self is obstructed by blameworthy action and mental heedlessness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse highlights the preparatory discipline central to Yoga-shastra: apramāda (non-negligence) and ethical restraint—performing one’s svadharma within one’s capacity while avoiding nindita-karma—supporting steadiness of mind required for higher practices such as meditation and Pashupata-oriented devotion.

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

By presenting Vishnu (as Kurma) teaching a discipline-compatible dharma that also undergirds Shaiva-Pashupata soteriology, the verse reflects the Purana’s synthesis: right action and restraint are shared prerequisites across Vaishnava and Shaiva paths toward liberation.