Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

अपाणिपादो जवनो ग्रहीता हृदि संस्थितः / अचक्षुरपि पश्यामि तथाकर्णः शृणोम्यहम्

Transliteration

apāṇipādo javano grahītā hṛdi saṃsthitaḥ / acakṣurapi paśyāmi tathākarṇaḥ śṛṇomyaham

Translation

Obwohl ohne Hände und Füße, ist Er schnell und der Ergreifer, im Herzen gegründet. Obwohl ohne Augen, sehe Ich; und obwohl ohne Ohren, höre Ich.

Word by Word

• a-pāṇi-pādaḥ: without hands and feet
• a-pāṇi-pādaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यस्य पाणिपादौ न स्तः’ (without hands and feet)

• javanaḥ: swift
• javanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: javana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• grahītā: seizer/taker
• grahītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grah (धातु) + tṛ (तृच्/तृन्; agent noun)
• Form: कृदन्त (तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तरि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• saṃsthitaḥ: situated/established
• saṃsthitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√sthā (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्थितः’ (situated)

• a-cakṣuḥ: without eyes
• a-cakṣuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यस्य चक्षुः नास्ति’ (eyeless)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु; पश्य-आदेश)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/so)

• a-karṇaḥ: without ears
• a-karṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यस्य कर्णौ न स्तः’ (earless)

• śṛṇomi: I hear
• śṛṇomi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; 1st person pronoun

Speaker

A realized teacher-voice within the Kurma Purana narrative (teaching the inner Īśvara/Ātman as beyond sense-organs yet the power of all perception)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Ishvara
• Hridaya (heart)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Ātman/Īśvara as transcending bodily organs (no hands, feet, eyes, ears) while being the inner power by which grasping, movement, seeing, and hearing occur—abiding as the indwelling witness in the heart.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to inward contemplation (hṛdaya-dhyāna): withdrawing attention from external sense-objects and recognizing the inner seer and hearer. This aligns with Purāṇic Yoga and Pāśupata-oriented discipline where realization is centered on the heart-established Lord as the source of all cognition.

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

By describing one transcendent Īśvara who functions through all faculties while remaining beyond them, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the same Supreme reality is praised as Hari or Hara in different devotional idioms, yet known as one inner Self.