Shloka 20

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

यो ऽपि संजीवनो नॄणां देवानाममृताकरः / सोमः स मन्नियोगेन चोदितः किल वर्तते

Transliteration

yo 'pi saṃjīvano nṝṇāṃ devānāmamṛtākaraḥ / somaḥ sa manniyogena coditaḥ kila vartate

Translation

Selbst Soma—der die Menschen belebt und für die Götter eine Quelle der Unsterblichkeit ist—wirkt, so heißt es, nur, wenn er durch Meine Verordnung angetrieben wird.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; relative pronoun

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• saṃjīvanaḥ: reviver
• saṃjīvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃjīvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; 'reviver/life-giver'

• nṝṇām: of men
• nṝṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• amṛta-ākaraḥ: source of nectar
• amṛta-ākaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'source/mine of nectar'

• somaḥ: Soma (Moon)
• somaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• mat-niyogena: by my ordinance
• mat-niyogena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'by my ordinance/commission'

• coditaḥ: impelled
• coditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cud (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त/PPP), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'impelled/ordered'

• kila: indeed/it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) indicating report/indeed ('it is said/indeed')

• vartate: functions/exists
• vartate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in an instructive narrative voice

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Devas
• Humans (nara)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme Lord as the inner sovereign whose ordinance governs even Soma’s life-giving power, implying that all sustaining forces operate under the one highest Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes īśvara-pradhānatā (God-centeredness): a yogin cultivates surrender and recognition of the Lord’s niyoga (divine governance), aligning mind and conduct with dharma—an orientation consistent with Pāśupata-style devotion and discipline.

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

By stressing a single supreme ordinance behind cosmic powers, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: whichever deity is praised, the governing Lordhood is one, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava theological language.