Shloka 55

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

श्राद्धं दानं तपो होमः पिण्डनिर्वपणं तथा / ध्यानं जपश्च नियमः सर्वमत्राक्षयं कृतम्

Transliteration

śrāddhaṃ dānaṃ tapo homaḥ piṇḍanirvapaṇaṃ tathā / dhyānaṃ japaśca niyamaḥ sarvamatrākṣayaṃ kṛtam

Translation

یہاں شرادھ، دان، تپسیا، ہوم، پنڈ نِروپن، نیز دھیان، جپ اور نیَم—جو کچھ بھی کیا جائے اس کا ثواب اَکشَی (ناقابلِ زوال) ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite (ancestral offering)
• श्राद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दानम्: gift; charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• होमः: fire-offering; oblation
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पिण्डनिर्वपणम्: offering of piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• पिण्डनिर्वपणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa + nirvapaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; निर्वपण = √vap/√vṛp? ‘to strew/offer’ nominal)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: पिण्डस्य निर्वपणम् (offering of rice-balls)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जपः: muttering; mantra-recitation
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नियमः: observance; rule
• नियमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all (of this)
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied कर्म/कृत्यसमूह)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable; inexhaustible (in merit)
• अक्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृतम्: is made; becomes
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘made/considered’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the inquirer (Indradyumna / sages) on dharma and akṣaya-merit

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Pitrs (ancestors)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by stressing akṣaya (undiminishing) merit, it points to a higher, enduring spiritual result beyond perishable worldly rewards—aligned with seeking the imperishable reality that supports dharma and inner discipline.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Dhyāna (meditation), japa (mantra-recitation), and niyama (disciplined observances) are named explicitly, showing a yoga-oriented dharma where inner practice stands alongside ritual (homa) and ethical action (dāna).

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

By integrating ritual, ancestral rites, and yogic discipline into one akṣaya framework, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where Vaiṣṇava teaching (Kurma/Vishnu) affirms practices commonly emphasized in Śaiva-Pāśupata and broader dharma traditions rather than opposing them.