Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 40

Brahmacārin-Dharma: Guru-Sevā, Daily Vedic Study, Gāyatrī-Japa, and Anadhyāya Regulations

Devanagari script

कृतज्ञश्च तथाद्रोही मेधावी शुभकृन्नरः / आप्तः प्रियो ऽथ विधिवत् षडध्याप्या द्विजातयः / एतेषु ब्रह्मणो दानमन्यत्र तु यथोदितान्

Transliteration

kṛtajñaśca tathādrohī medhāvī śubhakṛnnaraḥ / āptaḥ priyo 'tha vidhivat ṣaḍadhyāpyā dvijātayaḥ / eteṣu brahmaṇo dānamanyatra tu yathoditān

Translation

凡知恩不忘、无欺无叛、聪慧而勤行吉祥善业之人；又凡可信可亲、为人所爱者；以及依正法如仪教授六支吠陀（Vedāṅga）之二生者——应当向此等人施与圣智之布施（brahma-dāna）；若非其人，则当依先前所说之法而施。

Word by Word

• kṛtajñaḥ: grateful
• kṛtajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: कृतं जानाति इति (one who knows what is done/received)

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

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• adrohī: non-treacherous
• adrohī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-droh-in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• medhāvī: intelligent
• medhāvī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: medhāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śubhakṛt: doer of good
• śubhakṛt: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha-kṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः): शुभं करोति (does good)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āptaḥ: trustworthy/close (friend)
• āptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• priyaḥ: dear
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; sequence)

• vidhivat: according to rule
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-vat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): विधिना युक्तम् (according to rule)

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (numeral)

• adhyāpyāḥ: fit to be taught
• adhyāpyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhyāpya (प्रातिपदिक; √adhyāp (धातु) causative base)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be taught/fit to be instructed)

• dvijātayaḥ: the twice-born classes
• dvijātayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi-jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: द्विजानां जातयः (classes of the twice-born)

• eteṣu: among these
• eteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (or सामान्य), सप्तमी (7th case/Locative), बहुवचन

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman / of the Veda-priesthood
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), एकवचन

• dānam: gift, donation
• dānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; here as विषय/कर्म-भाव (the act of giving)

• anyatra: elsewhere/other than
• anyatra: Apādāna (अपादान/Exclusion-point)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): अन्यस्मिन् स्थाने (elsewhere/otherwise than)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• yathā-uditān: as stated (those mentioned)
• yathā-uditān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā-udita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः: यथोक्तान् (as stated)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teaching in the sages’ dialogue-frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Dvijati (twice-born)
• Vedanga (the six auxiliaries of the Veda)
• Brahma-dana (gift of sacred knowledge)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it treats “brahma” as sacred knowledge to be given only to ethically fit recipients, implying that higher truth is preserved through purity of character and disciplined transmission.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is taught; the verse emphasizes yama-like virtues (non-treachery, gratitude, goodness) and disciplined study/teaching as prerequisites that support spiritual practice and higher instruction.

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

It does not name Shiva or Vishnu; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis by stressing dharma and eligibility for sacred instruction—shared foundations for both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths.