Shloka 54

Madhu–Kaiṭabha, Nārāyaṇa’s Yoga-Nidrā, Rudra’s Manifestation, and the Aṣṭamūrti–Trimūrti Teaching

Devanagari script

त्वमीश्वरो महादेवः परं ब्रह्म महेश्वरः / परमेष्ठी शिवः शान्तः पुरुषो निष्कलो हरः

Transliteration

tvamīśvaro mahādevaḥ paraṃ brahma maheśvaraḥ / parameṣṭhī śivaḥ śāntaḥ puruṣo niṣkalo haraḥ

Translation

നീ തന്നെയാണ് ഈശ്വരൻ—മഹാദേവൻ; പരബ്രഹ്മം; മഹേശ്വരൻ. നീ പരമേഷ്ഠി, ശിവൻ, ശാന്തൻ; നിഷ്കല അവിഭാജ്യ പുരുഷൻ—ഹരൻ.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्गे (masc. by context), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ईश्वरः: Lord
• ईश्वरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (the great god)
• महादेवः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) ब्रह्मणः

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• महेश्वरः: Great Lord
• महेश्वरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमेष्ठी: the Supreme Ordainer (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवः: Śiva; auspicious one
• शिवः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• पुरुषः: Person; Puruṣa
• पुरुषः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• निष्कलः: partless; without divisions
• निष्कलः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक: निः + कल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• हरः: Hara (remover)
• हरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in the Īśvara-gītā section

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Mahadeva
• Brahman
• Maheshvara
• Parameshthin
• Shiva
• Purusha
• Hara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as paraṁ brahma and puruṣaḥ niṣkalaḥ—absolute consciousness that is undivided and partless, beyond limiting attributes while still revered as the personal Lord (Īśvara).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports niṣkala-upāsanā (contemplation of the attributeless Lord) central to Pāśupata-oriented devotion: meditating on Śiva as śānta (pure serenity) and as the inner Puruṣa, dissolving egoic division into one-pointed awareness.

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

Within the Īśvara-gītā framework, the speaker (Kūrma/Vishnu) praises the Supreme using Śaiva names—Mahādeva, Śiva, Hara—presenting a synthesis where the highest reality is one (Brahman/Īśvara) though addressed through both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva idioms.