Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

यदीश्वरप्रीणनार्थं ब्रह्मवित्सु प्रदीयते / चेतसा धर्मयुक्तेन दानं तद् विमलं शिवम्

Transliteration

yadīśvaraprīṇanārthaṃ brahmavitsu pradīyate / cetasā dharmayuktena dānaṃ tad vimalaṃ śivam

Translation

Khi bố thí được dâng cho những bậc tri Brahman để làm đẹp lòng Đấng Chúa Tể (Īśvara), với tâm hợp cùng dharma, thì bố thí ấy trở thành ‘vimala’—không tì vết và cát tường—thanh tịnh như chính Śiva.

Word by Word

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

• īśvara-prīṇana-artham: for pleasing the Lord
• īśvara-prīṇana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + prīṇana (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: īśvarasya prīṇanam = pleasing the Lord; prīṇanārtham = for the purpose of pleasing

• brahmavitsu: among the knowers of Brahman
• brahmavitsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmavit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Bahuvacana; ‘among/in the knowers of Brahman’

• pradīyate: is given
• pradīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; passive

• cetasā: with the mind
• cetasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/Instrumental), Ekavacana

• dharma-yuktena: endowed with righteousness
• dharma-yuktena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: dharmeṇa yukta = endowed with dharma; agrees with cetasā (instrumental)

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

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म) (correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; correlative to yat

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

• śivam: auspicious/beneficial
• śivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara
• Brahmavid
• Śiva

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising gifts given to brahmavids (knowers of Brahman/Ātman), the verse implies that realization of Brahman is the highest spiritual authority, and honoring such realization—done for Īśvara—purifies the giver.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is inner discipline of intention (cetasā dharmayuktena): aligning mind and motive with dharma and offering actions to Īśvara—an applied karma-yoga/bhakti orientation supporting later Pāśupata-style purification.

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

A gift offered for pleasing Īśvara is called “śivam” (auspicious/Śiva-like), reflecting the Purāṇic synthesis where devotion to the one Lord manifests as Śiva-auspiciousness and Viṣṇu-centered īśvara-bhakti without sectarian conflict.