Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

यस्त्वसद्भ्यो ददातीह स्वद्रव्यं धर्मसाधनम् / स पूर्वाभ्यधिकः पापी नरके पच्यते नरः

Transliteration

yastvasadbhyo dadātīha svadravyaṃ dharmasādhanam / sa pūrvābhyadhikaḥ pāpī narake pacyate naraḥ

Translation

然而，若有人在此世将自身财物施与不堪受者，自以为是成就正法之资——其罪更甚于前；此人于地狱中受煎熬如被烹煮。

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle

• असद्भ्यः: to the unworthy
• असद्भ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; ‘to the wicked/unworthy’

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place

• स्व-द्रव्यम्: one’s own wealth
• स्व-द्रव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘स्वं द्रव्यम्’

• धर्म-साधनम्: as a means to dharma
• धर्म-साधनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘धर्मस्य साधनम्’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्व-अभ्यधिकः: worse than the former
• पूर्व-अभ्यधिकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूर्वेभ्यः अभ्यधिकः) ‘more than the former’

• पापी: a sinner
• पापी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agent noun ‘sinner’

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पच्यते: is tormented/burned
• पच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• नरः: the man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma (dana-viveka)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (Vishnu)
• Dharma
• Naraka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that spiritual progress is not produced by mere outward acts labeled “dharma.” Without discernment (viveka) and purity of intention, action binds through karma-phala; knowledge of the Self requires ethical clarity as a prerequisite.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the yogic foundation of yama/niyama-like discipline—especially ethical discernment in action. Right giving (dāna with viveka) purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi), supporting higher practices such as devotion, contemplation, and the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-oriented inner discipline.

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

By presenting Dharma as the shared ground of liberation-oriented practice, the teaching aligns with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: whether one approaches as Vishnu (Kurma) or Shiva (Pashupati), ethical conduct and discernment are non-negotiable supports for yoga and moksha.