Shloka 20

Nine Creations (Sarga), Guṇa-Streams of Beings, and Brahmā’s Progeny in Cyclic Time

Devanagari script

पञ्चैते योगिनो विप्राः परं वैराग्यमास्थिताः / ईश्वरासक्तमनसो न सृष्टौ दधिरे मतिम्

Transliteration

pañcaite yogino viprāḥ paraṃ vairāgyamāsthitāḥ / īśvarāsaktamanaso na sṛṣṭau dadhire matim

Translation

هؤلاء اليوغيون الخمسة من البراهمة قد استقرّوا في أسمى الزهد والتجرّد (vairāgya)، وقلوبهم متعلّقة كلّها بـĪśvara، فلم يوجّهوا فكرهم إلى الخلق وتكوّن العالم.

Word by Word

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral used adjectivally (संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; pronoun

• yoginaḥ: yogins/ascetics
• yoginaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• viprāḥ: brāhmaṇas/sages
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; apposition to yoginaḥ

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying vairāgyam

• vairāgyam: dispassion/renunciation
• vairāgyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• āsthitāḥ: having adopted
• āsthitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु/क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘having resorted to’

• īśvara-āsakta-manasaḥ: whose minds were attached to the Lord
• īśvara-āsakta-manasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, आसञ्ज्/सञ्ज्) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose minds are attached to the Lord’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• sṛṣṭau: in creation/with regard to creation
• sṛṣṭau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dadhire: placed/held
• dadhire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) Perfect; 3rd person, Plural; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• matim: thought/intention
• matim: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the account of sages/yogins within the Purāṇic dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as Īśvara—the highest object of absorption—implying that realization matures when attention turns from changing creation (sṛṣṭi) to the unchanging Lord, who is the inner Self and ruler of all.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vairāgya (supreme dispassion) and īśvara-āsakti (one-pointed devotion/absorption in the Lord), a classic yogic pairing where detachment from worldly projection supports steady contemplation of Īśvara.

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

By centering practice on Īśvara rather than sectarian identity, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the highest Lord is approached through yoga and devotion, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava orientations in a single Īśvara-principle.