Shloka 30

Śrāddha-Kāla-Nirṇaya: Proper Times, Nakṣatra Fruits, Tīrtha Merit, and Offerings for Ancestral Rites

Devanagari script

एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्राः शीलवन्तो गुणान्विताः / तेषां तु समवेतानां यद्येको ऽपि गायां व्रजेत्

Transliteration

eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrāḥ śīlavanto guṇānvitāḥ / teṣāṃ tu samavetānāṃ yadyeko 'pi gāyāṃ vrajet

Translation

ควรปรารถนาบุตรจำนวนมากผู้มีศีลและคุณธรรม เพราะเมื่อเขาทั้งหลายพร้อมกัน แม้เพียงคนเดียวไปเพื่อรับใช้และคุ้มครองโคอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ หน้าที่แห่งธรรมก็สำเร็จได้.

Word by Word

• eṣṭavyāḥ: should be sought
• eṣṭavyāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: इष्-धातु, तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — “should be desired/sought” (agreeing with putrāḥ)

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण — “many” (qualifying putrāḥ)

• putrāḥ: sons
• putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — “sons”

• śīlavantaḥ: virtuous
• śīlavantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīla-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण — “of good conduct”

• guṇa-anvitāḥ: endowed with virtues
• guṇa-anvitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (tṛtīyā/saṃbandha sense) — “endowed with qualities”

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — “of them”

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ — “but/indeed”

• samavetānām: of the assembled (sons)
• samavetānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ava-i (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: सम्+अव+इ-धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — “of those assembled”

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction) — “if”

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण/संख्यावाचक — “one”

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle) — “even/also”

• gāyām: to Gayā
• gāyām: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — “to Gayā”

• vrajet: should go
• vrajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: व्रज्-धातु, विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — “should go”

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Purāṇic discourse context; ethical instruction within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Cow (Gauḥ)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily dharma-oriented rather than metaphysical: it emphasizes outward virtue (śīla, guṇa) and righteous action as the visible measure of inner refinement, which later supports spiritual pursuit in the Purāṇic framework.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific meditative technique is stated; instead, it highlights karma aligned with dharma—especially service and protection of life (gau-sevā)—as a foundational discipline that purifies conduct and supports higher yogic practice.

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

It does not directly mention Shiva or Vishnu; its teaching fits the Kurma Purana’s integrative ethic where devotion and yoga rest upon shared dharma—virtue, duty, and protection of the sacred (such as the cow).