Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविधं दानमुच्यते / चतुर्थं विमलं प्रोक्तं सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम्

Transliteration

nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ trividhaṃ dānamucyate / caturthaṃ vimalaṃ proktaṃ sarvadānottamottamam

Translation

Bố thí được nói có ba loại: thường nhật (nitya), theo duyên sự (naimittika), và do ước muốn (kāmya). Lại có loại thứ tư gọi là ‘vimala’—bố thí thanh tịnh—được tuyên dạy là tối thượng trong mọi sự cho đi.

Word by Word

• nityam: daily/constant
• nityam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• naimittikam: occasional (due to a cause)
• naimittikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naimittika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• kāmyam: desire-motivated (for a wish)
• kāmyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• trividham: threefold
• trividham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: tri-vidham = threefold; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म) / uddeśya-vastu (what is being defined)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• caturtham: the fourth
• caturtham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective (the fourth [kind])

• vimalam: pure/spotless
• vimalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective qualifying dānam (understood)

• proktam: declared/said
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (क्त/PPP), Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive participle used predicatively

• sarva-dāna-uttama-uttamam: the best of the best of all charities
• sarva-dāna-uttama-uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: sarva-dānānām uttama-uttamam = best of the best among all gifts; predicative adjective qualifying (tad dānam)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Dāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by ranking “vimala” (pure, motive-free) giving as supreme, the verse points toward inner purification (śuddhi) and self-transcendence—qualities that support realization of the Atman beyond egoic desire.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes purification of intention, a core yogic discipline: moving from desire-driven action (kāmya) toward selfless duty (nitya/naimittika) and finally to “vimala” action—aligned with karma-yoga and the Pāśupata-leaning stress on inner cleansing as a prerequisite for higher practice.

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

Though not naming Shiva directly, the teaching reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Vishnu as Kūrma teaches a dharma of purity and renunciation of selfish motive—values equally affirmed in Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, supporting a shared ethical foundation for devotion and liberation.