Shloka 2

Īśvara-gītā: Brahman as All-Pervading—Kāla, Prakṛti–Puruṣa, Tattva-Evolution, and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत् सर्वतो ऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् / सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति

Transliteration

sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tat sarvato 'kṣiśiromukham / sarvataḥ śrutimalloke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati

Translation

تلك الحقيقةُ العليا لها أيدٍ وأقدامٌ في كلِّ جهة؛ وفي كلِّ جهةٍ عيونُها ورؤوسُها ووجوهُها. وفي العالم لها السمعُ من كلِّ ناحية؛ تُحيطُ بكلِّ شيءٍ وتقومُ ساريةً في الجميع.

Word by Word

• सर्वतः: everywhere, on all sides
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिक्/देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: from/on all sides)

• पाणिपादम्: (having) hands and feet
• पाणिपादम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाणि + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पाणयः च पादाः च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषण (having hands and feet everywhere)

• तत्: that (Supreme)
• तत्: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परब्रह्म/परमात्मा-वाचक

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• अक्षिशिरोमुखम्: (having) eyes, heads, and faces
• अक्षिशिरोमुखम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि + शिरस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अक्षीणि च शिरांसि च मुखानि च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषण

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• श्रुतिमत्: possessing hearing (ears)
• श्रुतिमत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास/मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (श्रुतिः अस्य अस्ति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति विशेषण

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आवृत्य: having covered, enveloping
• आवृत्य: पूर्वक्रिया (absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having covered)

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Ishvara Gita to the sages (contextually in dialogue tradition)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Brahman
• Vishvarupa
• Kurma (as speaker-context)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as immanent and all-pervading—appearing as all faculties (hands, feet, eyes, hearing) in every being—so the Atman/Ishvara is not confined to one form but covers and abides in all.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports viśvarūpa-dhyāna (meditation on the all-pervading form): the yogin contemplates Ishvara present in every direction and in all beings, aiding ekāgratā (one-pointedness) and dissolution of ego-based separateness—an orientation compatible with Pāśupata-tinged Ishvara-bhakti and jñāna.

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

By describing one all-pervading Ishvara beyond limited form, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu can be revered as expressions of the same Supreme Reality that envelops the entire cosmos.