Shloka 11

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

छायातपौ यथा लोके परस्परविलक्षणौ / तद्वत् प्रपञ्चपुरुषौ विभिन्नौ परमार्थतः

Transliteration

chāyātapau yathā loke parasparavilakṣaṇau / tadvat prapañcapuruṣau vibhinnau paramārthataḥ

Translation

ലോകത്തിൽ നിഴലും വെയിലും പരസ്പരം വ്യത്യസ്തമായതുപോലെ, പരമാർത്ഥത്തിൽ പ്രപഞ്ചവും പുരുഷനും (ചൈതന്യാത്മാവ്) വ്യത്യസ്തവും വേറിട്ടതുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• chāyā-tapau: shade and heat
• chāyā-tapau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक) + tapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• paraspara-vilakṣaṇau: mutually different
• paraspara-vilakṣaṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraspara (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vi-lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (parasparasya vilakṣaṇau = mutually distinct)

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्वत्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय

• prapañca-puruṣau: the world (manifestation) and the Puruṣa
• prapañca-puruṣau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapañca (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• vibhinnau: separate/different
• vibhinnau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-bhinna (भिद्-धातु से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषण (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• paramārthataḥ: in ultimate reality
• paramārthataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paramārthatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ultimately)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Purusha
• Prapancha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discrimination): the Self (puruṣa) is categorically different from the changing world (prapañca), like sunlight distinct from shade—indicating the Atman’s independent, conscious nature beyond phenomena.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports the meditative discipline of discernment central to Pashupata-oriented instruction in the Ishvara Gita: repeatedly separating awareness (puruṣa) from the seen (prapañca) to stabilize detachment (vairāgya) and inward absorption (dhyāna).

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

By grounding liberation in ultimate discrimination and devotion to the Supreme Lord taught by Kurma, it aligns Shaiva and Vaishnava paths in a shared metaphysics: one highest Reality guides the seeker beyond the world’s appearance to the liberated standpoint.