Shloka 120

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

नारायणो ऽपि भगवांस्तापसं वेषमुत्तमम् / जग्राह योगिनः सर्वांस्त्यक्त्वा वै परमं वपुः

Transliteration

nārāyaṇo 'pi bhagavāṃstāpasaṃ veṣamuttamam / jagrāha yoginaḥ sarvāṃstyaktvā vai paramaṃ vapuḥ

Translation

Aun el Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa asumió el más excelso atuendo de asceta; renunciando a su forma suprema, adoptó ese modo por el bien de todos los yoguis.

Word by Word

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण

• तापसम्: ascetic
• तापसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वेषम् इति विशेषण

• वेषम्: guise, attire
• वेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वेषम् इति विशेषण

• जग्राह: took, assumed
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• योगिनः: of the yogins
• योगिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; (योगिनः) इति विशेष्य

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वपुः इति विशेषण

• वपुः: body, form
• वपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu/Narayana) as the teacher of the Ishvara Gita (within the Kurma Purana’s dialogue framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Bhagavan
• Yogins
• Tapas (ascetic discipline)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing Nārāyaṇa voluntarily “renouncing” His supreme form to adopt an ascetic mode, the verse implies the Supreme is not limited by form; forms are assumed for instruction and grace, while the essential reality remains transcendent.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity/discipline) as a yogic instrument: adopting the ascetic life as a model for yogins, consistent with Ishvara Gita themes where restraint, renunciation, and disciplined practice support realization.

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

In the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) endorses ascetic-tapas ideals strongly associated with Shaiva/Pāśupata culture, signaling shared yogic dharma and a non-sectarian unity of spiritual means.