Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

अपूपं च हिरण्यं च गामश्वं पृथिवीं तिलान् / अविद्वान् प्रतिगृह्णानो भस्मी भवति काष्ठवत्

Transliteration

apūpaṃ ca hiraṇyaṃ ca gāmaśvaṃ pṛthivīṃ tilān / avidvān pratigṛhṇāno bhasmī bhavati kāṣṭhavat

Translation

جو نالائق اور بے علم شخص اپوپ، سونا، گائے اور گھوڑے، زمین یا تل کا دان قبول کرتا ہے، وہ لکڑی کی طرح راکھ ہو کر تباہ ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• अपूपम्: cake/food offering
• अपूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• हिरण्यम्: gold
• हिरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular feminine (irregular stem go-)

• अश्वम्: a horse
• अश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• पृथिवीम्: land/earth (property)
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural masculine

• अविद्वान्: an ignorant man
• अविद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; नञ्-पूर्वक (avidvān = ignorant)

• प्रतिगृह्णानः: accepting (as a gift)
• प्रतिगृह्णानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; present active participle (taking/accepting)

• भस्मी: ashes
• भस्मी: Karma (कर्म/परिणाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (भस्मी-भवति = becomes ashes)

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present indicative 3rd sg

• काष्ठवत्: like wood
• काष्ठवत्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त); adverbial ‘like’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma (dāna and adhikāra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• dāna (charity)
• adhikāra (eligibility)
• tiladāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it stresses inner qualification and purity over mere external acquisition—without discernment (vidyā), one’s conduct binds and destroys, whereas knowledge and fitness support liberation-oriented living.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to yama-like discipline—restraint and purity in livelihood and acceptance (aparigraha/ethical non-grasping). In Kurma Purana’s yogic ethos, such ethical clarity is a foundation for higher practice and mantra-japa/meditation.

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

By presenting dharma as a shared, universal discipline taught by Lord Kurma: ethical purification and eligibility (adhikāra) are prerequisites valued across Shaiva-Pashupata and Vaishnava paths, reflecting the Purana’s integrative stance.