Shloka 50
Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
सुगुप्ते सुशुभे देशे गुहायां पर्वतस्य तु / नद्यास्तीरे पुण्यदेशे देवतायतने तथा
sugupte suśubhe deśe guhāyāṃ parvatasya tu / nadyāstīre puṇyadeśe devatāyatane tathā
An einem gut geschützten, glückverheißenden Ort—etwa in einer Höhle am Berge, am Ufer eines Flusses, in einer heiligen Gegend oder ebenso in einem Schrein bzw. Tempel der Gottheit—(soll man wohnen und üben).
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita discourse
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By emphasizing secluded, pure settings for practice, the verse supports the Ishvara Gita’s method: still the mind through disciplined dwelling and worship so the inner Self (Atman), identical with the Lord in realization, can be directly known.
The verse highlights the preparatory discipline (adhikara) for Yoga—choosing a secure, auspicious place such as a cave, riverbank, holy region, or deity-temple—supporting dhyana (meditation), japa, and devotional worship aligned with Pashupata-oriented restraint and purity.
By validating both temple worship and yogic seclusion within the Ishvara Gita taught by Lord Kurma, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the one Supreme is approached through complementary Shaiva-Pashupata yogic discipline and Vaishnava devotional orientation without contradiction.