Shloka 28
Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga
यथा संलक्ष्यते रक्तः केवलः स्फटिको जनैः / रक्तिकाद्युपधानेन तद्वत् परमपूरुषः
yathā saṃlakṣyate raktaḥ kevalaḥ sphaṭiko janaiḥ / raktikādyupadhānena tadvat paramapūruṣaḥ
De même qu’un cristal parfaitement limpide est perçu par les hommes comme rouge lorsqu’il est posé sur une teinture rouge ou un support semblable, de même le Suprême Personne (Paramapuruṣa) paraît qualifié et comme « coloré » par les upādhi, les conditions limitantes.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that the Supreme is intrinsically pure and attributeless, but appears to take on qualities due to association with upādhis (limiting conditions), just as a clear crystal seems red when placed near a red coloring base.
The verse supports viveka (discriminative insight) used in Yoga and contemplation: the practitioner learns to distinguish the pure Self/Ishvara from the changing upādhis—body, mind, guṇas—thereby stabilizing meditation on the unconditioned reality.
By emphasizing one Supreme reality that only appears diversified through upādhis, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu can be understood as manifestations or designations of the same Paramapurusha rather than competing absolutes.