Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः / सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी भक्तिमान् यः स मे प्रियः

Transliteration

anapekṣaḥ śucirdakṣa udāsīno gatavyathaḥ / sarvārambhaparityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Translation

ಯಾವನು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಿಲ್ಲದವನು, ಶುದ್ಧನು, ದಕ್ಷನು, ಉದಾಸೀನನು, ವ್ಯಥಾರಹಿತನು; ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥಪ್ರೇರಿತ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಆರಂಭಗಳನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ಭಕ್ತಿಯುಳ್ಳವನು—ಅವನು ನನಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯನು.

Word by Word

• अनपेक्षः: without expectation
• अनपेक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-अपेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण (without expectation)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (pure)

• दक्षः: skilful
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (skilful)

• उदासीनः: indifferent
• उदासीनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदासीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (indifferent/neutral)

• गतव्यथः: free from distress
• गतव्यथः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम्+क्त, कृदन्त) + व्यथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one whose distress has gone)

• सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी: renouncing all undertakings
• सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + परित्यागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (renouncer of all undertakings)

• भक्तिमान्: devout
• भक्तिमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing devotion)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मे: to me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; enclitic

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Pradhana-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Indradyumna
• Ishvara Gita
• Bhakti

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising freedom from expectation, sorrow, and ego-driven initiative, the verse points to steadiness rooted in the Self—where the devotee abides in inner purity and equanimity, reflecting Atman-centered living rather than desire-centered living.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes Karma-Yoga infused with bhakti: acting with skill and purity while relinquishing possessiveness and self-seeking “beginnings” (ārambha). This aligns with the Ishvara Gita’s discipline of vairagya (dispassion), mental equipoise, and devotion as the stabilizing practice.

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

The shared ideal of the “beloved devotee” mirrors the common yogic-bhakti ethic found across Shaiva and Vaishnava teachings—detachment, purity, and devotion—supporting the Kurma Purana’s synthetic (non-sectarian) spiritual vision.