Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविधं दानमुच्यते / चतुर्थं विमलं प्रोक्तं सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम्

Transliteration

nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ trividhaṃ dānamucyate / caturthaṃ vimalaṃ proktaṃ sarvadānottamottamam

Translation

布施（dāna）被说有三类：恒常之施（nitya）、因缘之施（naimittika）、以及为求所愿之施（kāmya）。又有第四种名为“vimala”的清净之施，被宣说为一切施中最为殊胜。

Word by Word

• nityam: daily/constant
• nityam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• naimittikam: occasional (due to a cause)
• naimittikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naimittika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• kāmyam: desire-motivated (for a wish)
• kāmyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

• trividham: threefold
• trividham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: tri-vidham = threefold; predicative adjective qualifying dānam

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

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• caturtham: the fourth
• caturtham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative adjective (the fourth [kind])

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

• proktam: declared/said
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (क्त/PPP), Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive participle used predicatively

• sarva-dāna-uttama-uttamam: the best of the best of all charities
• sarva-dāna-uttama-uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: sarva-dānānām uttama-uttamam = best of the best among all gifts; predicative adjective qualifying (tad dānam)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages on dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Dāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does so indirectly: by ranking “vimala” (pure, motive-free) giving as supreme, the verse points toward inner purification (śuddhi) and self-transcendence—qualities that support realization of the Atman beyond egoic desire.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes purification of intention, a core yogic discipline: moving from desire-driven action (kāmya) toward selfless duty (nitya/naimittika) and finally to “vimala” action—aligned with karma-yoga and the Pāśupata-leaning stress on inner cleansing as a prerequisite for higher practice.

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

Though not naming Shiva directly, the teaching reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Vishnu as Kūrma teaches a dharma of purity and renunciation of selfish motive—values equally affirmed in Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, supporting a shared ethical foundation for devotion and liberation.