Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

यस्त्वसद्भ्यो ददातीह स्वद्रव्यं धर्मसाधनम् / स पूर्वाभ्यधिकः पापी नरके पच्यते नरः

Transliteration

yastvasadbhyo dadātīha svadravyaṃ dharmasādhanam / sa pūrvābhyadhikaḥ pāpī narake pacyate naraḥ

Translation

جو نااہل لوگوں کو اپنا مال ‘دھرم کا وسیلہ’ سمجھ کر دے، وہ پہلے سے بڑھ کر گناہگار ہوتا ہے؛ وہ انسان دوزخ میں جلایا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

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

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle

• असद्भ्यः: to the unworthy
• असद्भ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; ‘to the wicked/unworthy’

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place

• स्व-द्रव्यम्: one’s own wealth
• स्व-द्रव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘स्वं द्रव्यम्’

• धर्म-साधनम्: as a means to dharma
• धर्म-साधनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘धर्मस्य साधनम्’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्व-अभ्यधिकः: worse than the former
• पूर्व-अभ्यधिकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूर्वेभ्यः अभ्यधिकः) ‘more than the former’

• पापी: a sinner
• पापी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agent noun ‘sinner’

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पच्यते: is tormented/burned
• पच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• नरः: the man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma (dana-viveka)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Dharma
• Naraka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual progress is not produced by mere outward acts labeled “dharma.” Without discernment (viveka) and purity of intention, action binds through karma-phala; knowledge of the Self requires ethical clarity as a prerequisite.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the yogic foundation of yama/niyama-like discipline—especially ethical discernment in action. Right giving (dāna with viveka) purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi), supporting higher practices such as devotion, contemplation, and the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented inner discipline.

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

By presenting Dharma as the shared ground of liberation-oriented practice, the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: whether one approaches as Vishnu (Kurma) or Shiva (Pashupati), ethical conduct and discernment are non-negotiable supports for yoga and moksha.