Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

दानधर्मं निषेवेत पात्रमासाद्य शक्तितः / उत्पत्स्यते हि तत्पात्रं यत् तारयति सर्वतः

Transliteration

dānadharmaṃ niṣeveta pātramāsādya śaktitaḥ / utpatsyate hi tatpātraṃ yat tārayati sarvataḥ

Translation

Nên thực hành pháp bố thí, gặp được người thọ nhận xứng đáng và tùy theo khả năng của mình; vì chính người thọ nhận xứng đáng ấy xuất hiện để, bằng mọi cách, trở thành phương tiện giải thoát cho người bố thí.

Word by Word

• दानधर्मम्: the duty of giving (charity-dharma)
• दानधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक; दान + धर्म)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• निषेवेत: should practice/engage in
• निषेवेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + नि-उपसर्ग
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• पात्रम्: a worthy recipient
• पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• आसाद्य: having approached/obtained
• आसाद्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु) + आ-उपसर्ग
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव)

• शक्तितः: according to one’s capacity
• शक्तितः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्यय), “according to ability”

• उत्पत्स्यते: will arise/come into being
• उत्पत्स्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + उत्-उपसर्ग
• Form: Future (लृट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic/causal

• तत्-पात्रम्: that (true) recipient
• तत्-पात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• यत्: which (that which)
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• तारयति: causes to cross/saves
• तारयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु) (causative/णिजन्त: तारय-)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सर्वतः: in every way/from all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्यय), “from all sides/entirely”

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma (charity and proper giving)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Dana
• Patra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to purification: giving to a worthy recipient becomes a means of “crossing over” (tārayati), supporting inner clarity that culminates in Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes karma-yoga in the form of dāna: disciplined, capacity-based giving to a proper pātra as a purifying practice that supports higher sādhana, including Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis paths like Pāśupata-oriented restraint and devotion found in the text.

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

By framing dharma as a universal purifier leading to deliverance, it aligns with the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same dharmic discipline supports realization and liberation upheld across both Shaiva and Vaishnava teachings.