Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

अहन्यहनि यत् किञ्चिद् दीयते ऽनुपकारिणे / अनुद्दिश्य फलं तस्माद् ब्राह्मणाय तु नित्यकम्

Transliteration

ahanyahani yat kiñcid dīyate 'nupakāriṇe / anuddiśya phalaṃ tasmād brāhmaṇāya tu nityakam

Translation

Bất cứ chút gì được cho mỗi ngày đối với người không thể báo đáp—không nhắm cầu quả báo—thì nên dâng đều đặn cho một Brāhmaṇa như một bố thí thường hằng, hằng nhật.

Word by Word

• ahani ahani: day after day
• ahani ahani: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-usage (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग): locative reduplication ‘day by day’ (अहनि अहनि)

• yat: which/that (gift)
• yat: Karma (कर्म) (relative-correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to dānam (understood)

• kiñcit: something/anything
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Accusative (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; indefinite pronoun ‘something’

• dīyate: is given
• dīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• anupakāriṇe: to one who does not repay/return a favor
• anupakāriṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-upakārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc) / common-gender agent noun, Caturthī (4th/Dative), Ekavacana

• anuddiśya: without intending (for)
• anuddiśya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu + diś (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-lyap (ल्यप्/absolutive, gerund) used as avyaya; ‘without aiming/without specifying’

• phalam: fruit/reward
• phalam: Karma (कर्म) (object of anuddiśya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napumsaka, Pañcamī (5th/Ablative), Ekavacana; causal ‘therefore/from that’

• brāhmaṇāya: to a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (4th/Dative), Ekavacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) marking contrast/emphasis

• nityakam: daily (nitya type)
• nityakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nityaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective referring to (tad dānam)

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator (instructional discourse within the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to inner purification: giving without desire for “fruit” (phala) weakens ego-driven attachment, a key preparatory discipline for realizing the Self beyond craving and reward.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes niṣkāma-karma as a yogic support—daily, disciplined generosity (nitya-dāna) that steadies the mind, reduces rajas (restlessness), and prepares one for higher contemplative practices taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

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

This verse is primarily dharma-focused rather than sectarian; it supports the Purana’s integrative spirit by grounding spiritual progress in selfless action—a common foundation for both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava paths.