Shloka 20

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

मायापाशेन बद्धानां मोचको ऽन्यो न विद्यते / मामृते परमात्मानं भूताधिपतिमव्ययम्

Transliteration

māyāpāśena baddhānāṃ mocako 'nyo na vidyate / māmṛte paramātmānaṃ bhūtādhipatimavyayam

Translation

Für die durch die Schlinge der Māyā Gebundenen gibt es keinen anderen Befreier—außer Mir, dem Paramātman, dem unvergänglichen Herrn aller Wesen.

Word by Word

• māyā-pāśena: by the noose of māyā
• māyā-pāśena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘मायायाः पाशः’

• baddhānām: of the bound (beings)
• baddhānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bandh (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of those who are bound’

• mocakaḥ: liberator
• mocakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mocaka (प्रातिपदिक; from √muc)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• anyaḥ: other
• anyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• vidyate: exists/is found
• vidyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे प्रयोग: ‘exists/is found’

• mām: me
• mām: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• ṛte: without/except
• ṛte: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṛte (अव्यय)
• Form: वर्जनार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: ‘except/without’), governs accusative

• parama-ātmānam: the Supreme Self
• parama-ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘परमः आत्मा’

• bhūta-adhipatim: lord of beings
• bhūta-adhipatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भूतानाम् अधिपतिः’

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; indeclinable/imperishable (as adjective)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita to King Indradyumna (with sages as hearers)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Paramatman
• Bhutadhipati
• Lord Kurma (Vishnu)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord as Paramātman—imperishable and sovereign over all beings—who alone can free the bound soul from Māyā.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes īśvara-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in the Lord) as the essential yogic key to cut Māyā’s bondage—an Ishvara-Gita theme aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and disciplined practice.

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

By presenting the one imperishable Lord as the sole liberator (a hallmark of the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis), it supports a non-sectarian reading where the Supreme—revered as Hari or Hara—functions as the single source of grace and release.