Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

गृहस्थायान्नदानेन फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः / आममेवास्य दातव्यं दत्त्वाप्नोति परां गतिम्

Transliteration

gṛhasthāyānnadānena phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ / āmamevāsya dātavyaṃ dattvāpnoti parāṃ gatim

Translation

گھریلو (گृहستھ) کے اَنّ دان سے انسان ثواب پاتا ہے۔ تازہ پکا ہوا کھانا ہی دینا چاہیے؛ یہ دان دے کر وہ پرم گتی کو پہنچتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• गृहस्थाय: for a householder
• गृहस्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dat. 4), एकवचन (sg.); ‘for a householder’ (contextual beneficiary)

• अन्नदानेन: by the giving of food
• अन्नदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न-दान (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Inst. 3), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: अन्नस्य दानम्

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• मानवः: a man, person
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• आमम्: uncooked (raw)
• आमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘uncooked/raw’ (qualifies implied अन्नम्)

• एव: only, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात (emphatic particle)

• अस्य: of him (his)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/अदस्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘अस्य’ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.); ‘of him/for him’ (context: of the householder)

• दातव्यम्: is to be given / should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory) ‘तव्यत्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय: ‘should be given’

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• पराम्: supreme, highest
• पराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम् गतिम्

• गतिम्: state, destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Traditional narration in the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching voice (instructional passage attributed to the Purana’s authoritative discourse, ultimately grounded in Lord Kūrma’s teaching tradition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that ethical action (dāna) purifies the doer and becomes a means toward “parā gati,” the highest spiritual end—traditionally understood as proximity to, or realization of, the Supreme.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes karma-yoga in a Purāṇic frame: disciplined household duty and selfless giving (anna-dāna) as a practical sādhanā that supports inner purification, which the Kurma tradition links to higher yogic attainment.

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

While not naming them, it reflects the shared Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis of the Kurma Purana: righteous conduct and self-offering are upheld as universal means to the supreme goal, consonant with both Ishvara-bhakti and dharma.