Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वाथ निर्भयः शान्तस्त्यक्त्वा मायामयं जगत् / स्वात्मन्यवस्थितं देवं चिन्तयेत् परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

kṛtvātha nirbhayaḥ śāntastyaktvā māyāmayaṃ jagat / svātmanyavasthitaṃ devaṃ cintayet parameśvaram

Translation

Ensuite, devenu sans crainte et paisible, renonçant au monde fait de Māyā, qu’on médite Parameśvara, le Seigneur suprême—la Réalité divine établie au sein de son propre ātman.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done (thus)
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having done'

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/transition particle

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of implied yogin)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शान्तः: calm
• शान्तः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त; √शम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• माया-मयम्: illusory
• माया-मयम्: कर्म (Karma; qualifier of जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धितार्थ/तत्पुरुष: 'मायया मयम्' (made of illusion)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्म (Karma/Object of abandoning)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्व-आत्मनि: in one’s own self
• स्व-आत्मनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य आत्मनि = in one's own self)

• अवस्थितम्: abiding/established
• अवस्थितम्: कर्म (Karma; qualifier of देवं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवस्थित (कृदन्त; अव+√स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (standing/abiding)

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of thinking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परम-ईश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma; apposition to देवं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Maya
• Atman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara) is not merely external but is established within one’s own Self; realization is approached by inner contemplation rather than outward pursuit.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes a mature yogic sequence: completing the prior discipline, cultivating fearlessness and tranquility (śānti), practicing renunciation (vairāgya) toward the māyā-constituted world, and then meditating steadily on the indwelling Lord—an Ishvara-centered contemplation aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner absorption.

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

By using the title Parameśvara for the indwelling Supreme, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Lord is one Reality realized within, transcending rigid Shaiva–Vaishnava division.