Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

प्रास्येदग्नौ तदन्नं तु दद्याद् वा ब्रह्मचारिणे / तस्मादेकमपि श्रेष्ठं विद्वांसं भोजयेद् द्विजम्

Transliteration

prāsyedagnau tadannaṃ tu dadyād vā brahmacāriṇe / tasmādekamapi śreṣṭhaṃ vidvāṃsaṃ bhojayed dvijam

Translation

Ihagis ang pagkaing iyon sa banal na apoy (Agni), o kaya’y ibigay sa isang brahmacārin (mag-aaral ng Veda). Kaya, kahit iisa lamang ang pakakainin, pakainin ang isang dakila at marunong na dvija (dalawang-ulit na isinilang).

Word by Word

• प्रास्येत्: should cast/throw
• प्रास्येत्: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अग्नौ: into the fire
• अग्नौ: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• ब्रह्मचारिणे: to a celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारिणे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (उपपद-तत्पुरुष; ‘one who practices brahmacarya’); पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु (Hetu/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थे ‘therefore’ (ablatival adverb)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अप्यर्थ (even)

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent/best
• श्रेष्ठम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• विद्वांसम्: a learned man
• विद्वांसम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) ‘भोजय-’; विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजम्: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna in the context of dāna and varṇāśrama-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Brahmacarin
• Dvija

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames dharmic action (offering to Agni and feeding the worthy) as a purifying discipline that refines the mind, making it fit for Self-knowledge—an approach consistent with the Purana’s synthesis of karma, devotion, and liberating insight.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes karma-yoga through consecrated action: offering food into Agni (yajña-oriented purification) and supporting brahmacārins and learned dvijas, which sustains Vedic study and inner discipline—supportive foundations for higher yoga, including Pāśupata-oriented purification and restraint.

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

By prioritizing yajña (Agni) and dharma-based giving, it reflects a shared Purāṇic framework honored across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava streams: disciplined offerings and support of sacred learning are common means to purification and grace, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance.