Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् / ज्ञानयोगेन मां तस्माद् यजेत परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham / jñānayogena māṃ tasmād yajeta parameśvaram

Translation

衆生がいかなる仕方で我に帰投するにせよ、我もまたその仕方のままに応える。ゆえに、智のヨーガによって我—至上主（パラメーシュヴァラ）—を礼拝すべきである。

Word by Word

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; nominative plural

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकार (as/in whatever manner)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचनम्; accusative singular

• prapadyante: approach/surrender
• prapadyante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (पद् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; ‘take refuge/approach’

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्; accusative plural

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार (thus/in that way)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अवधारण (indeed/just)

• bhajāmi: I reciprocate/serve
• bhajāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (भज् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम्; nominative singular

• jñāna-yogena: by the yoga of knowledge
• jñāna-yogena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; instrumental singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचनम्; accusative singular

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘therefore’ (ablative sense)

• yajeta: should worship
• yajeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; ‘should worship’

• parama-īśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parama-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; accusative singular; ‘the supreme Lord’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Parameshvara), teaching within the Ishvara Gita discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Lord Kurma
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme (Parameshvara) as responsive to the seeker’s inner disposition: realization is not forced externally but unfolds according to the mode of surrender and understanding—pointing to an immanent Lord who is accessible through knowledge (jñāna) and inward turning.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse explicitly recommends jñāna-yoga—worship through discernment, contemplation, and direct insight into the Lord’s reality—consistent with the Ishvara Gita’s emphasis on inner sacrifice (yajña) through knowledge, alongside devotion (bhakti) expressed as surrender (prapatti).

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

By using the title Parameshvara for the speaker (Kurma/Vishnu), the text frames the Supreme as beyond sectarian division—supporting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where the same highest Lord is approached through multiple valid paths.