Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

आत्मायः केवलः स्वस्थः शान्तः सूक्ष्मः सनातनः / अस्ति सर्वान्तरः साक्षाच्चिन्मात्रस्तमसः परः

Transliteration

ātmāyaḥ kevalaḥ svasthaḥ śāntaḥ sūkṣmaḥ sanātanaḥ / asti sarvāntaraḥ sākṣāccinmātrastamasaḥ paraḥ

Translation

Der Ātman ist einzig (nicht-zwei) und in sich selbst gegründet, still, fein und ewig. Er ist als unmittelbarer Zeuge im Innern aller Wesen gegenwärtig—reines Bewusstsein allein—jenseits der Finsternis der Unwissenheit (tamas).

Word by Word

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अयः: iron (lit.); (textual epithet as given)
• अयः: सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केवलः: alone, pure
• केवलः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वस्थः: self-abiding, steady
• स्वस्थः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: स्वे स्थः (“standing in oneself”)

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त; √शम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• सूक्ष्मः: subtle
• सूक्ष्मः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वान्तरः: the inner (one) of all
• सर्वान्तरः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषाम् अन्तरः (“inner of all”)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• चिन्मात्रः: pure consciousness alone
• चिन्मात्रः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: चित् एव मात्रम् (“mere consciousness”)

• तमसः: of darkness, of tamas
• तमसः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परः: beyond, higher than
• परः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers on the nature of Ātman

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Tamas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It describes Ātman as non-dual, self-abiding, subtle and eternal, present within all as the direct Witness—pure consciousness beyond tamas (ignorance).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies witness-consciousness meditation: turning inward to recognize the subtle, peaceful inner seer (sākṣin) beyond mental darkness (tamas), a foundation for Purāṇic yoga and Pāśupata-oriented contemplation.

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

By defining the Supreme as the inner Witness and pure consciousness, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the highest reality transcends sectarian form—allowing Śiva and Viṣṇu to be understood as expressions of the same non-dual Ātman.