Shloka 20

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

Mahādeva as Non-dual Brahman

Devanagari script

गुह्याद् गुह्यतमं ज्ञानं यतीनामेतदीरितम् / यो ऽनुतिष्ठेन्महेशेन सो ऽश्नुते योगमैश्वरम्

Transliteration

guhyād guhyatamaṃ jñānaṃ yatīnāmetadīritam / yo 'nutiṣṭhenmaheśena so 'śnute yogamaiśvaram

Translation

Voici la connaissance la plus secrète—plus cachée que tout ce qui est caché—enseignée aux yogins renonçants. Celui qui la met en pratique selon Maheśa (Śiva) obtient le Yoga divin et souverain.

Word by Word

• guhyāt: than (what is) secret
• guhyāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Singular); तुलनाबोधक (comparative base: 'than secret')

• guhyatamam: most secret
• guhyatamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guhya-tama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc, Sg); तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• yatīnām: of ascetics
• yatīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• īritam: declared; taught
• īritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √īr (ईर्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom, Sg); एतत् विशेषण

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine relative pronoun, Nom, Sg)

• anutiṣṭhet: should practice; should follow
• anutiṣṭhet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√sthā (स्था) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd sg, Parasmaipada)

• maheśena: by Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• aśnute: attains; enjoys
• aśnute: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √aś (अश्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd sg, Ātmanepada)

• yogam: yoga
• yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• aiśvaram: lordly; divine
• aiśvaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Sg); योगम् विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in a Śaiva-affirming synthesis (Iśvara-centered Yoga, attributed to Maheśa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Maheśa (Śiva)
• Yatī (renunciants)
• Aiśvara Yoga (Īśvara-yoga)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames liberation-oriented knowledge as “guhyatama”—accessible through disciplined practice—implying that realization of the Self is not merely conceptual but attained by Īśvara-centered Yoga, where the aspirant reaches a divine, sovereign state (aiśvara).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes faithful observance (anutiṣṭhāna) of the esoteric discipline taught by Maheśa—i.e., a Pāśupata/Īśvara-oriented yoga grounded in renunciation, steadiness, and devotion to the Lord as the effective means to attain aiśvara-yoga.

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

Although spoken within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, it credits Maheśa as the authoritative teacher of the secret yoga, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva’s yoga is affirmed as a valid Īśvara-path under the broader divine unity.