Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

मद्बुद्धयो मां सततं बोधयन्तः परस्परम् / कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं मम सायुज्यमाप्नुयुः

Transliteration

madbuddhayo māṃ satataṃ bodhayantaḥ parasparam / kathayantaśca māṃ nityaṃ mama sāyujyamāpnuyuḥ

Translation

എന്നിൽ ബുദ്ധി നിശ്ചയിച്ചവർ, പരസ്പരം എന്റെ തത്ത്വം നിരന്തരം ഉണർത്തുകയും, നിത്യവും എന്നെക്കുറിച്ച് സംസാരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നവർ—എന്റെ സായുജ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• मत्-बुद्धयः: those devoted in understanding to me
• मत्-बुद्धयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मद्बुद्धयः’ (those whose understanding is in me / devoted to me)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (देववाचक), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• बोधयन्तः: instructing/awakening
• बोधयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपद-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘instructing/awakening’

• परस्परम्: one another
• परस्परम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्पर-भावे (reciprocally)

• कथयन्तः: speaking (about)
• कथयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘speaking/telling’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (देववाचक), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मम: of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सायुज्यम्: union (with me)
• सायुज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आप्नुयुः: may attain
• आप्नुयुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they may attain’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Vishnu
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Sāyujya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme (Ishvara) as the final state to be realized: when the mind and intellect are wholly oriented toward Him, the seeker attains sāyujya—an intimate liberating union that culminates in abiding in the Lord’s own state.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti-yoga supported by satsaṅga: constant remembrance, mutual spiritual instruction (bodhayantaḥ parasparam), and continual kathā (speaking/hearing the Lord’s qualities). These disciplines steady the buddhi in Ishvara and mature into liberating realization.

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

Within the Ishvara Gita’s synthesis, devotion to the one Supreme Lord culminates in sāyujya; the teaching supports a non-sectarian vision where the highest reality is one (Ishvara), approached through disciplined devotion rather than rivalry of forms.