Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
एतद् गुह्यतमं ध्यानं ध्यानान्तरमथोच्यते / चिन्तयित्वा तु पूर्वोक्तं हृदये पद्ममुत्तमम्
etad guhyatamaṃ dhyānaṃ dhyānāntaramathocyate / cintayitvā tu pūrvoktaṃ hṛdaye padmamuttamam
આ સર્વથી ગુહ્ય ધ્યાન છે; હવે ધ્યાનનો બીજો પ્રકાર કહેવામાં આવે છે. અગાઉ કહેલા હૃદયસ્થ ઉત્તમ કમળનું ચિંતન કરીને,
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Ishvara Gita instructions
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
By directing meditation to the “supreme lotus in the heart,” the verse points to the inner seat of realization—where the Supreme is approached as the indwelling Self, known through contemplative absorption rather than external ritual alone.
It introduces an esoteric dhyāna sequence within Pashupata-oriented teaching: first stabilize visualization/contemplation of the heart-lotus (hṛdaya-padma) as previously instructed, then proceed to a further, subtler meditation method that follows from that inner focus.
In the Ishvara Gita style of the Kurma Purana, Vishnu (as Kurma) teaches a meditation framework commonly associated with Shaiva yogic language, reflecting the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the one Supreme is approached through shared yogic contemplations.