Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

इत्येतत् परमं ज्ञानं युष्माकं कथितं मया / ज्ञात्वा विमुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात्

Transliteration

ityetat paramaṃ jñānaṃ yuṣmākaṃ kathitaṃ mayā / jñātvā vimucyate janturjanmasaṃsārabandhanāt

Translation

So habe Ich euch dieses höchste Wissen verkündet. Wer es erkennt, wird als Lebewesen von der Fessel von Geburt und Weltenwanderung (Samsara) befreit.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ज्ञानम्)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ज्ञानम्)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्मणि वाक्ये विषय/प्रमेय), एकवचन

• युष्माकम्: of you
• युष्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of you (all)’

• कथितम्: told
• कथितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव: ‘has been told’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• विमुच्यते: is freed
• विमुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is released’

• जन्तुः: a being
• जन्तुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• जन्मसंसारबन्धनात्: from the bondage of birth and saṃsāra
• जन्मसंसारबन्धनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: जन्म-संसारस्य बन्धनम् (bondage of birth-and-transmigration)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), teaching the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)
• Saṃsāra
• Paramajñāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It states that “supreme knowledge” (paramaṃ jñānam) is liberating; in the Ishvara Gita context, this points to realizing the Self/Ishvara beyond embodied limitation, which alone cuts the bondage of saṃsāra.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself emphasizes jñāna (realization) as the direct cause of release; within the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita, such knowledge is typically supported by disciplined yoga and devotion—often framed in Pāśupata-oriented restraint, contemplation, and God-centered meditation culminating in liberating insight.

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

Though not naming them explicitly, the Ishvara Gita’s teaching voice (Kurma/Vishnu) presents liberation through “supreme knowledge,” a theme shared with Shaiva Pāśupata and Vedantic currents—supporting the Purana’s non-sectarian, synthesis-oriented approach.