Shloka 19

Yati-Āśrama: Bhikṣā-vidhi, Īśvara-dhyāna, and Prāyaścitta

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

तन्मध्ये निहितं ब्रह्म केवलं ज्ञानलक्षणम् / अनन्तं सत्यमीशानं विचिन्त्यासीत संयतः

Transliteration

tanmadhye nihitaṃ brahma kevalaṃ jñānalakṣaṇam / anantaṃ satyamīśānaṃ vicintyāsīta saṃyataḥ

Translation

En son sein repose Brahman, pur, n’ayant pour signe que la conscience. Méditant le Seigneur Īśāna comme infini et véridique, le chercheur discipliné doit demeurer maître de soi et recueilli.

Word by Word

• tat: in that
• tat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• nihitam: placed; deposited; situated
• nihitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√dhā (धा) (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (PPP, Neuter, Nom, Sg); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण (qualifies brahma)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• kevalam: alone; pure
• kevalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom, Sg); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण

• jñāna-lakṣaṇam: having knowledge as its mark; characterized by knowledge
• jñāna-lakṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna-lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + लक्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom, Sg); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण

• anantam: endless; infinite
• anantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); ईशानम् विशेषण

• satyam: true; real
• satyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); ईशानम् विशेषण

• īśānam: the Lord; the Ruler
• īśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• vicintya: having contemplated
• vicintya: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√cint (चिन्त्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• āsīta: should sit; should remain
• āsīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (आस्) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् लकार (आशीर्लिङ्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (optative/benedictive sense: 'should sit/should remain')

• saṃyataḥ: self-controlled
• saṃyataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (PPP) from saṃ-√yam (यम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg); कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara-Gita style discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Ishana

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies Brahman as “kevala” (pure, unmixed) and “jñāna-lakṣaṇa” (of the nature of consciousness), indicating the Supreme as limitless awareness rather than a material object.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes inward contemplation (vicintya) on the indwelling Absolute and abiding in restraint (saṃyataḥ), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented discipline: sense-control, steady sitting/abidance, and sustained God-remembrance.

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

By using the epithet “Īśāna” for the Supreme while spoken in a Kūrma (Viṣṇu) setting, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the one Brahman/Ishvara is praised through shared divine names and attributes.