Shloka 28

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

यथा संलक्ष्यते रक्तः केवलः स्फटिको जनैः / रक्तिकाद्युपधानेन तद्वत् परमपूरुषः

Transliteration

yathā saṃlakṣyate raktaḥ kevalaḥ sphaṭiko janaiḥ / raktikādyupadhānena tadvat paramapūruṣaḥ

Translation

كما يُدرَك البلّور الصافي الخالص عند الناس أحمرَ إذا وُضِع على صبغٍ أحمر أو ما يشابهه، كذلك يُرى البُرُوشا الأسمى (الإنسان الأعلى) كأنه متصفٌ ومُلوَّنٌ بالأوبادهي، أي بالقيود العارضة المحدِّدة.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable; comparative/manner)

• saṃlakṣyate: is perceived/recognized
• saṃlakṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ+lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• raktaḥ: red
• raktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) from √rañj ‘to color’; विशेषणम्

• kevalaḥ: pure/alone
• kevalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• sphaṭikaḥ: crystal
• sphaṭikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sphaṭika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचनम्; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent/instrument in passive)

• raktikā-ādi-upadhānena: by the placing of lac etc.
• raktikā-ādi-upadhānena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raktikā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + upadhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (raktikādyasya upadhānam) ‘placing of (something) like lac etc.’; करणम्

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (indeclinable; ‘in that manner/likewise’)

• parama-pūruṣaḥ: the Supreme Person
• parama-pūruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (paramaḥ saḥ pūruṣaḥ)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Paramapurusha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme is intrinsically pure and attributeless, but appears to take on qualities due to association with upādhis (limiting conditions), just as a clear crystal seems red when placed near a red coloring base.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports viveka (discriminative insight) used in Yoga and contemplation: the practitioner learns to distinguish the pure Self/Ishvara from the changing upādhis—body, mind, guṇas—thereby stabilizing meditation on the unconditioned reality.

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

By emphasizing one Supreme reality that only appears diversified through upādhis, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu can be understood as manifestations or designations of the same Paramapurusha rather than competing absolutes.