Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वानि माया कर्म गुणा इति / एते पाशाः पशुपतेः क्लेशाश्च पशुबन्धनाः

Transliteration

caturviṃśatitattvāni māyā karma guṇā iti / ete pāśāḥ paśupateḥ kleśāśca paśubandhanāḥ

Translation

Die vierundzwanzig Tattvas, zusammen mit Māyā, Karma und den Guṇas—das sind die Pāśas, die Fesseln, welche den paśu binden; und sie sind zugleich die Kleśas, die Leiden, die die Gebundenheit der Seele in Beziehung zu Paśupati, dem Herrn der Wesen, ausmachen.

Word by Word

• catur-viṃśati-tattvāni: the twenty-four principles
• catur-viṃśati-tattvāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘चतुर्विंशतिः तत्त्वानि’ = twenty-four principles

• māyā: māyā
• māyā: Apposition/List-item (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• karma: action/karma
• karma: Apposition/List-item (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• guṇāḥ: qualities (guṇas)
• guṇāḥ: Apposition/List-item (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• iti: thus/namely
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ete: these
• ete: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• pāśāḥ: bonds/nooses
• pāśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• paśu-pateḥ: of Paśupati
• paśu-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पशूनां पतिः’ (Paśupati)

• kleśāḥ: afflictions
• kleśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kleśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• paśu-bandhanāḥ: bondages of beings
• paśu-bandhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पशूनां बन्धनानि/बन्धनाः’ (bondage of beings)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in an Iśvara Gītā-style discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Paśupati
• Paśu
• Pāśa
• Tattvas
• Māyā
• Karma
• Guṇas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the Lord (Paśupati) from the soul (paśu) and the binding forces (pāśa). The Supreme is implied as the transcendent ruler beyond tattvas, māyā, karma, and guṇas, while the individual self experiences bondage through these limiting conditions.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse frames the diagnostic core of Pāśupata-oriented liberation: recognize the bonds (tattvas, māyā, karma, guṇas, kleśas) and pursue God-centered discipline that cuts identification with prakṛti—typically through devotion to the Lord, inner detachment (vairāgya), and discriminative insight (viveka) consistent with Iśvara Gītā teachings.

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

By using the Śaiva title “Paśupati” within a discourse attributed to Lord Kūrma (Vishnu), the Purāṇa presents a synthetic theology: the one Supreme Lord is praised through both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva names, while liberation is taught as devotion to that single highest Īśvara.