Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 63

Dāna-dharma: Types of Charity, Worthy Recipients, Vrata-Timings, and Śiva–Viṣṇu Propitiation

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायवन्तो ये विप्रा विद्यावन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः / सत्यसंयमसंयुक्तास्तेभ्यो दद्याद् द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

svādhyāyavanto ye viprā vidyāvanto jitendriyāḥ / satyasaṃyamasaṃyuktāstebhyo dadyād dvijottamāḥ

Translation

Yaong mga Brahmanang masikhay sa svādhyāya (sariling pag-aaral ng Veda), may tunay na karunungan, at nagtagumpay sa mga pandama—nakaugat sa katotohanan at pagpipigil-sa-sarili—sa kanila dapat magbigay ang pinakamainam sa mga ‘dalawang ulit na isinilang’.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायवन्तः: endowed with Vedic study
• स्वाध्यायवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाध्यायवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘possessed of self-study’

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विद्यावन्तः: learned
• विद्यावन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘possessed of knowledge’

• जित-इन्द्रियाः: having conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from जि धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम्/जितेन्द्रिय’ (sense: self-controlled)

• सत्य-संयम-संयुक्ताः: joined with truth and restraint
• सत्य-संयम-संयुक्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संयम (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘सत्येन संयमेन च संयुक्ताः’ (connected with truth and restraint)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; ‘to them’

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• द्विज-उत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय sense ‘श्रेष्ठा द्विजाः’ (best among the twice-born)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma and dana

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (Brahmin)
• Dvija (twice-born)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes purification—svādhyāya, sense-mastery, truth, and restraint—through which the mind becomes fit to recognize the Atman; charity is to support those established in such sādhana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights foundational yogic disciplines: jitendriyatā (sense-control) and saṃyama (restraint), supported by svādhyāya (scriptural recitation/self-study), aligning with Purāṇic yoga ethics (yama-like virtues) that prepare one for higher contemplation.

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

By grounding devotion in shared dharmic virtues—truth, restraint, and disciplined study—rather than sectarian markers; this ethical-spiritual basis supports the Kurma Purana’s integrative Shaiva–Vaishnava vision where genuine sādhana is honored across traditions.