Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियाणां विचरतां विषयेषु स्वभावतः / निग्रहः प्रोच्यते सद्भिः प्रत्याहारस्तु सत्तमाः

Transliteration

indriyāṇāṃ vicaratāṃ viṣayeṣu svabhāvataḥ / nigrahaḥ procyate sadbhiḥ pratyāhārastu sattamāḥ

Translation

હે સત્તમ! ઇન્દ્રિયો સ્વભાવથી વિષયોમાં ભટકે છે; તેમનો નિયંત્રણ જ સદ્ભુઓએ ‘પ્રત્યાહાર’ કહ્યું છે।

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the senses
• इन्द्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• विचरताम्: of (them) moving/roaming
• विचरताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘विचरत्’ → ‘विचरताम्’ (of those moving)

• विषयेषु: in the objects (of sense)
• विषयेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• स्वभावतः: by nature
• स्वभावतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः); कारणार्थक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘by nature/from natural disposition’)

• निग्रहः: restraint
• निग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रोच्यते: is said/declared
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• सद्भिः: by the good (wise)
• सद्भिः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘सत्’ = good/virtuous persons

• प्रत्याहारः: pratyāhāra (withdrawal)
• प्रत्याहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्याहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपातः (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• सत्तमाः: O best of the good (noble ones)
• सत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; सत् + तमप्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन); उत्तम-विशेषणरूपेण संबोधनम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Pratyahara
• Indriyas
• Vishayas
• Sadbhiḥ

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By defining pratyāhāra as restraining the senses from their natural outward flow, the verse points to the inward-turning necessary for Self-abidance: when sensory dispersion is checked, awareness can rest in the inner Atman rather than in external objects.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights pratyāhāra—systematic withdrawal/restraint of the senses from viṣayas—as a core limb of Yoga. It frames practice as disciplined control (nigraha) of the indriyas so the mind becomes fit for dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and deeper contemplation taught in the Ishvara Gita.

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

While not naming Shiva directly, the teaching reflects the shared Yoga-śāstra of the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Lord Kurma (Vishnu) transmits a discipline central to Pāśupata-oriented spirituality, showing unity in method and goal—inner mastery leading to realization of the one Supreme.