Shloka 23

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायस्य त्रयो भेदा वाचिकोपांशुमानसाः / उत्तरोत्तरवैशिष्ट्यं प्राहुर्वेदार्थवेदिनः

Transliteration

svādhyāyasya trayo bhedā vācikopāṃśumānasāḥ / uttarottaravaiśiṣṭyaṃ prāhurvedārthavedinaḥ

Translation

Svādhyāya gilt als dreifach: laut gesprochen, leise/gehaucht (upāṁśu) und rein geistig. Kenner des Veda-Sinnes erklären, dass jede folgende Weise der vorherigen überlegen ist.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायस्य: of self-study
• स्वाध्यायस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; numeral adjective qualifying 'भेदाः'

• भेदाः: types/divisions
• भेदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• वाचिक: verbal (aloud)
• वाचिक: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; first member of list qualifying 'भेदाः'

• उपांशु: muttered/whispered
• उपांशु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपांशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; second member of list qualifying 'भेदाः'

• मानसाः: mental
• मानसाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; third member of list qualifying 'भेदाः'

• उत्तरोत्तरवैशिष्ट्यम्: progressively increasing superiority
• उत्तरोत्तरवैशिष्ट्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर-उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + वैशिष्ट्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'उत्तरोत्तरं (क्रमेण अधिकं) वैशिष्ट्यम्'

• प्राहुः: they say
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• वेदार्थवेदिनः: knowers of the Veda’s meaning
• वेदार्थवेदिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'वेदस्य अर्थं वेदन्ति' / 'वेदार्थस्य वेदिन्'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Svadhyaya
• Veda

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By ranking mental recitation as superior, the verse points toward inward, subtle practice—where attention rests in consciousness itself—supporting the Ishvara Gita’s emphasis on inner realization over external display.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It outlines a graded discipline of japa/svādhyāya: vocal recitation, whispered recitation, and fully mental repetition. The progression mirrors yogic interiorization (pratyāhāra and dhyāna), where practice becomes increasingly subtle and concentrated.

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

Rather than sectarian ritualism, it stresses an inward yogic method validated by Vedic meaning—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis, where devotion and yoga converge in internal realization of Ishvara.