Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति / तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा

Transliteration

yadā bhūtapṛthagbhāvamekasthamanupaśyati / tata eva ca vistāraṃ brahma saṃpadyate tadā

Translation

ഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ വേർതിരിവ് പോലും ‘ഒന്നിൽ’ തന്നെ അധിഷ്ഠിതമാണെന്ന് യഥാർത്ഥമായി കാണുമ്പോൾ, ആ ദർശനത്തിലൂടെയേ അവൻ ബ്രഹ്മത്തെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു—അത് മൂലവും സർവ്വവിസ്താരവും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'when'

• भूतपृथग्भावम्: the separateness of beings
• भूतपृथग्भावम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta-pṛthag-bhāva (भूतपृथग्भाव) = bhūta (भूत) + pṛthak (पृथक्) + bhāva (भाव) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (acc. sg.); 'the state of separateness of beings'

• एकस्थम्: as abiding in one (place/principle)
• एकस्थम्: विशेषण (viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka-stha (एकस्थ) = eka (एक) + stha (स्थ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. acc. sg.)

• अनुपश्यति: perceives
• अनुपश्यति: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+√paś (पश्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.); 'sees/realizes'

• ततः: thereupon/from that
• ततः: हेतु/अपादानार्थ-सम्बन्ध (cause/source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततः) (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from that/thereupon'

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विस्तारम्: expansion
• विस्तारम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistāra (विस्तार) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्ता (karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• संपद्यते: becomes/attains
• संपद्यते: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√pad (पद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.); 'comes to be/attains'

• तदा: then
• तदा: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'then'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the many beings are not ultimately separate; when their diversity is seen as grounded in the One, one becomes established in Brahman—implying Atman’s non-difference from the Supreme Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative discernment (viveka) and one-pointed meditative seeing (anupaśyati): repeatedly observing diversity while recognizing its single substratum—an inner practice aligned with Jnana-Yoga and the Ishvara Gita’s liberation-oriented instruction.

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

By emphasizing Brahman as the single ground of all expansion, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of the one Supreme Reality rather than competing absolutes.