Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
मद्बुद्धयो मां सततं पूजयन्तीह ये जनाः / तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्
madbuddhayo māṃ satataṃ pūjayantīha ye janāḥ / teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham
この世において बुद्धि を我に定め、常に我を供養する人々—その常住の帰依者たちのために、我自らがヨーガ・クシェーマを担う。すなわち得るべきものと守るべきものを。
Lord Kūrma (Śrī Nārāyaṇa) instructing King Indradyumna in the Īśvara-gītā
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It presents the Supreme Lord as a living, responsive Īśvara: when the mind (buddhi) is established in Him, He actively safeguards the devotee’s spiritual attainment and worldly stability—showing the Atman’s highest ground as the Lord who sustains both inner realization and outer life.
Single-pointed devotion (madbuddhi), continuous worship/remembrance (satatam pūjā), and unwavering engagement (nityābhiyukta). In the Īśvara-gītā spirit, this is bhakti as yoga—steady attention to Īśvara that culminates in protection of one’s sādhana and progress.
While spoken by Nārāyaṇa as Kūrma, it aligns with the Purāṇa’s synthesis: the one Īśvara—revered through bhakti and yoga—assumes responsibility for the devotee, a teaching compatible with both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva/Pāśupata emphasis on steadfast dedication to the Lord.