Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

यो ऽप्यशेषजगच्छास्ता शक्रः सर्वामरेश्वरः / यज्वनां फलदो देवो वर्तते ऽसौ मदाज्ञया

Transliteration

yo 'pyaśeṣajagacchāstā śakraḥ sarvāmareśvaraḥ / yajvanāṃ phalado devo vartate 'sau madājñayā

Translation

Selbst Śakra (Indra)—der Herrscher, der die ganze Welt regiert, und der Gebieter aller Unsterblichen—der Gott, der den Opfernden die Früchte des Yajña verleiht—handelt nur nach Meinem Befehl.

Word by Word

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

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

• aśeṣa-jagat-śāstā: ruler of the whole world
• aśeṣa-jagat-śāstā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; multi-member Tatpuruṣa: 'teacher/ruler of the entire world'

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Indra

• sarva-amara-īśvaraḥ: lord of all gods
• sarva-amara-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + amara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'lord of all immortals (gods)'

• yajvanām: of sacrificers
• yajvanām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural; 'of sacrificers'

• phala-daḥ: giver of results
• phala-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'giver of fruits (results)'

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• asau: that (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• mat-ājñayā: by my command
• mat-ājñayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'by my command'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu/Narayana) teaching about supreme lordship over the devas

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Devas (Amaras)
• Narayana (implied as the speaker)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord as the ultimate controller (īśvara) whose will governs even Indra; thus all cosmic authority and the dispensation of results rest in the higher Self’s sovereignty.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes īśvara-bhāva (orientation to the Supreme Lord) and surrender to divine ordinance; this supports disciplined practice where karma and worship are offered to the Lord, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s yoga-śāstra ethos.

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

By asserting a single supreme command over the devas and sacrificial fruits, it supports the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: ultimate lordship is one, whether spoken of in Vaiṣṇava or Śaiva terms.