Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

तपः स्वाध्यायसंतोषाः शौचमीश्वरपूजनम् / समासान्नियमाः प्रोक्ता योगसिद्धिप्रदायिनः

Transliteration

tapaḥ svādhyāyasaṃtoṣāḥ śaucamīśvarapūjanam / samāsānniyamāḥ proktā yogasiddhipradāyinaḥ

Translation

ತಪಸ್ಸು, ಸ್ವಾಧ್ಯಾಯ, ಸಂತೋಷ, ಶೌಚ ಮತ್ತು ಈಶ್ವರಪೂಜೆ—ಇವು ಸಂಕ್ಷೇಪವಾಗಿ ‘ನಿಯಮಗಳು’ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿವೆ; ಇವು ಯೋಗಸಿದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡುವವು.

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here as item in list (enumeration)

• स्वाध्याय: self-study/recitation
• स्वाध्याय: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; list-member (as a niyama)

• संतोषाः: contentment
• संतोषाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; list-member

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; list-member

• ईश्वरपूजनम्: worship of the Lord
• ईश्वरपूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'ईश्वरस्य पूजनम्'

• समासात्: briefly/in summary
• समासात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन; 'in brief/briefly' (ablatival usage)

• नियमाः: observances (niyamas)
• नियमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are said/declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; agrees with 'नियमाः'

• योगसिद्धिप्रदायिनः: bestowing yogic attainments
• योगसिद्धिप्रदायिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योगसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'योगसिद्धेः प्रदायिनः' qualifying 'नियमाः'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By prescribing īśvarapūjana (worship of the Lord) alongside inner disciplines like svādhyāya and śauca, the verse implies that realization is supported by purification and God-oriented devotion—preparing the mind for direct knowledge of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights the niyamas that stabilize practice: tapaḥ (austerity), svādhyāya (scriptural recitation and reflective study), saṃtoṣa (contentment), śauca (inner/outer purity), and īśvarapūjana (devotional worship). These function as foundational supports for meditation and yogic accomplishment.

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

It presents īśvara (the Lord) as the focus of worship within Yoga discipline, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme Īśvara is approached through devotion and yogic purity beyond strict Shaiva–Vaishnava division.