Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

स्तुतिस्मरणपूजाभिर्वाङ्मनःकायकर्मभिः / सुनिश्चला शिवे भक्तिरेतदीश्वरपूजनम्

Transliteration

stutismaraṇapūjābhirvāṅmanaḥkāyakarmabhiḥ / suniścalā śive bhaktiretadīśvarapūjanam

Translation

Par la louange, le souvenir et le culte—accomplis par la parole, l’esprit et les actes du corps—lorsque la bhakti envers Śiva devient parfaitement inébranlable, cela même est le véritable culte d’Īśvara.

Word by Word

• stuti-smaraṇa-pūjābhiḥ: by praise, remembrance, and worship
• stuti-smaraṇa-pūjābhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक) + smaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वः—‘with praise, remembrance, and worship’

• vāk-manaḥ-kāya-karmabhiḥ: with speech, mind, body, and actions
• vāk-manaḥ-kāya-karmabhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वः—‘with (acts of) speech, mind, body, and deeds’

• su-niścalā: very steady; unwavering
• su-niścalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग) + niścalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying bhaktiḥ

• śive: in/for Śiva
• śive: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• īśvara-pūjanam: worship of the Lord
• īśvara-pūjanam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘worship of the Lord’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the Īśvara-gītā doctrine to the sages/seekers

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames realization-oriented worship as inner steadiness: when devotion becomes unwavering in mind, speech, and action, worship is fulfilled as a stable orientation to Īśvara rather than a mere external rite—hinting that the essential ‘seat’ of worship is the inner self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes an integrated sādhana: stuti (devotional recitation), smaraṇa (continuous mindful remembrance), and pūjā (ritual upāsanā), unified across vāṅ-manas-kāya (speech–mind–body). This aligns with Pāśupata-style discipline where inner recollection and ethical/ritual conduct converge into steady bhakti.

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

With Lord Kūrma teaching that unwavering bhakti to Śiva is true Īśvara-worship, the text presents a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Śiva is honored as Īśvara, while the teaching authority is Viṣṇu (Kūrma), implying unity of the Supreme across names and forms.