Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 19

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

ततो ऽन्नं बहुसंस्कारं नैकव्यञ्जनमच्युतम् / चोष्यपेयसमृद्धं च यथाशक्त्या प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

tato 'nnaṃ bahusaṃskāraṃ naikavyañjanamacyutam / coṣyapeyasamṛddhaṃ ca yathāśaktyā prakalpayet

Translation

随后当量力备办饮食：精心烹制，多般调制，配以诸多佐菜，并使可嚼之食与可饮之物皆丰足——以奉献于阿周多（Acyuta），不坏之主。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रम (Sequence/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कारणवाचक (then/thereafter)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बहुसंस्कारम्: well-prepared/with many preparations
• बहुसंस्कारम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अन्नम्’; तत्पुरुषः (बहवः संस्काराः यस्य)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• एकव्यञ्जनम्: not with only one side-dish
• एकव्यञ्जनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अन्नम्’; तत्पुरुषः (एकं व्यञ्जनं यस्य)

• अच्युतम्: excellent/undefiled
• अच्युतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अन्नम्’; अर्थः ‘अच्युत’ (unfallen/excellent)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• उष्यपेयसमृद्धम्: rich in warm food and drinks
• उष्यपेयसमृद्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्य + पेय + समृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अन्नम्’; समासः (उष्यं च पेयं च ताभ्यां समृद्धम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• यथा-शक्त्या: according to one’s ability
• यथा-शक्त्या: रीति (Manner/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण ‘शक्त्या’ (instrumental)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः ‘प्र-’

Speaker

Narrator/teacher voice within the Purāṇic discourse (instructional passage on dharma and offering), traditionally transmitted by Vyāsa’s narration framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by naming the recipient as Acyuta (the Imperishable), it points to the Supreme as unchanging and worthy of offering, while the devotee practices steadiness and reverence through disciplined giving.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes karma-yoga in a Purāṇic mode: mindful preparation and offering according to one’s capacity (yathāśaktyā), cultivating purity, restraint, and devotion as practical supports for inner discipline.

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

Though Vishnu is named as Acyuta here, the Kurma Purana commonly frames such worship within a broader synthesis where disciplined offering and devotion lead toward one Supreme reality honored through multiple divine forms.