Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

एकं पादमथैकस्मिन् विन्यस्योरुणि सत्तमाः / आसीतार्धासनमिदं योगसाधनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

ekaṃ pādamathaikasmin vinyasyoruṇi sattamāḥ / āsītārdhāsanamidaṃ yogasādhanamuttamam

Translation

O Bester der Tugendhaften: Setzt man einen Fuß auf den gegenüberliegenden Oberschenkel und sitzt so, heißt dies Ardhāsana (Halbsitz) — eine vortreffliche Hilfe für die Übung des Yoga.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular neuter); विशेषणम्

• पादम्: foot
• पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular masculine)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• एकस्मिन्: in one (place)
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular); विशेषणम्

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘विन्यस्य’ = having placed; उपसर्ग: वि+नि

• ऊरुणि: on the thigh
• ऊरुणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular masculine)

• सत्तमाः: the best (persons)
• सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural masculine); ‘श्रेष्ठाः’ इत्यर्थे

• आसीत: was
• आसीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्धासनम्: half-posture (half-seat)
• अर्धासनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः: ‘अर्धं च तत् आसनम्’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता; विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); सर्वनाम

• योगसाधनम्: means of yoga
• योगसाधनम्: Karta (कर्ता; विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘योगस्य साधनम्’

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages/King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Ishvara Gita
• Pashupata Yoga
• Ardhasana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing a stabilizing yogic posture, it supports the inward discipline through which the yogin becomes fit for Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna), a key aim of the Ishvara Gita’s spiritual path.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights āsana as a foundational limb of practice: Ardhasana (half-seat), formed by placing one foot on the opposite thigh, is praised as an excellent support for steadiness required in meditation and Pashupata-oriented yogic discipline.

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

By placing yogic instruction in the mouth of Lord Kurma while framing it within Pashupata-style discipline, the text models a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Vishnu teaches a yoga idiom strongly associated with Shiva’s ascetic tradition.