Shloka 25
Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
ओष्ठयोः स्पन्दमात्रेण परस्याशब्दबोधकः / उपांशुरेष निर्दिष्टः साहस्रो वाचिकाज्जपः
oṣṭhayoḥ spandamātreṇa parasyāśabdabodhakaḥ / upāṃśureṣa nirdiṣṭaḥ sāhasro vācikājjapaḥ
ചുണ്ടുകളുടെ അല്പമായ സ്പന്ദനമാത്രംകൊണ്ട്, കേൾക്കാവുന്ന ശബ്ദമില്ലാതെ മന്ത്രബോധം ഉണ്ടാകുന്നത് ‘ഉപാംശു’ എന്നു നിർദ്ദേശിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; ഈ ഉപാംശു-ജപം വാചിക ജപത്തേക്കാൾ ആയിരം മടങ്ങ് ഫലപ്രദമെന്ന് പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna within the Ishvara Gita teaching context
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By praising soundless (aśabda) indication of the mantra, the verse points toward an inward, subtle realization—where the sacred meaning is apprehended internally rather than through external speech, aligning practice with the inwardly known Supreme.
It highlights mantra-japa as a yogic discipline and ranks upāṃśu (inaudible/whispered) recitation above vācika (aloud) japa, emphasizing interiorization, restraint of speech, and steadier concentration—key features of Pashupata-oriented sādhanā in the Ishvara Gita.
Though Shiva is not named in this line, the Ishvara Gita’s shared yogic vocabulary (japa, inner discipline, subtle recitation) reflects the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same inner yogic method is upheld as a universal means to realize Ishvara beyond sectarian form.