Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany
त्वं हि वेत्थ स्वमात्मानं न ह्यन्यो विद्यते शिव / ततस्त्वमात्मनात्मानं मुनीन्द्रेभ्यः प्रदर्शय
tvaṃ hi vettha svamātmānaṃ na hyanyo vidyate śiva / tatastvamātmanātmānaṃ munīndrebhyaḥ pradarśaya
ഹേ ശിവാ! നിന്റെ സ്വാത്മസ്വരൂപം സത്യമായി നീയേ അറിയുന്നു; കാരണം മറ്റാരും (സ്വതന്ത്രമായി) അതറിയുന്നില്ല. അതിനാൽ നിന്റെ ആത്മശക്തിയാൽ മുനീന്ദ്രന്മാർക്ക് ആത്മാവിനെ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുക.
The sages (munis) addressing Shiva (Rudra) within the Ishvara Gita framework
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
It implies the Self is self-luminous and ultimately known only through itself—no external agent can grasp it; realization occurs when the inner Self reveals itself.
The verse points to inward realization central to Pāśupata-oriented discipline: turning awareness to the indwelling Self (ātman) so that knowledge arises through direct experiential insight rather than mere external instruction.
By presenting Śiva as the revealer and essence of the Self, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where the supreme reality is one, expressed through Shiva/Vishnu terminology within the Ishvara Gita teaching context.