Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

कुटुम्बभक्तवसनाद् देयं यदतिरिच्यते / अन्यथा दीयते यद्धि न तद् दानं फलप्रदम्

Transliteration

kuṭumbabhaktavasanād deyaṃ yadatiricyate / anyathā dīyate yaddhi na tad dānaṃ phalapradam

Translation

先供养家室之食与衣，余下之物方可施舍；若以别法而施，亦即忽略这些本分而给与者，并非能生灵性果报之布施。

Word by Word

• कुटुम्ब-भक्त-वसनात्: from (what is reserved for) family, food, and clothing
• कुटुम्ब-भक्त-वसनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्ब + भक्त + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva as a collective base meaning “from (what is meant for) family, food, and clothing”

• देयम्: to be given
• देयम्: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Gerundive/तव्यत् (कर्तव्यता), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• अतिरिच्यते: is left over/exceeds
• अतिरिच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रिच् (धातु) + अति-उपसर्ग
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive/intransitive sense “remains over”

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

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

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• फल-प्रदम्: fruit-giving, yielding results
• फल-प्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; प्रद = “giving”)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with दानम्

Speaker

Sage narrator (Purāṇic instruction on dāna-dharma, framed as authoritative teaching within the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kutama (household)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual fruit (phala) depends on dharmic intention and right order of duties; inner purity and responsibility are prerequisites for higher realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is prescribed here; it establishes the ethical groundwork (yama-like discipline) that supports yoga—giving without disordering one’s obligatory duties is part of steadiness (dharma) that aids meditation.

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

Not explicitly; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s unified dharma framework in which right conduct and disciplined giving are shared foundations for both Shaiva (including Pashupata) and Vaishnava spiritual paths.