Shloka 2

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

परात् परतरं ब्रह्म शाश्वतं निष्कलं ध्रुवम् / नित्यानन्दं निर्विकल्पं तद्धाम परमं मम

Transliteration

parāt parataraṃ brahma śāśvataṃ niṣkalaṃ dhruvam / nityānandaṃ nirvikalpaṃ taddhāma paramaṃ mama

Translation

പരാത്പരമായ ബ്രഹ്മം ശാശ്വതം, നിഷ്കലം, ധ്രുവം; നിത്യാനന്ദസ്വരൂപം, നിർവികൽപം. അതുതന്നെ എന്റെ പരമ ധാമം।

Word by Word

• परात्: from the beyond
• परात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; comparative base used adverbially: 'from beyond/than the beyond'

• परतरम्: more supreme
• परतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; comparative degree

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• निष्कलम्: partless
• निष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ध्रुवम्: steadfast, fixed
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• नित्यानन्दम्: eternal bliss
• नित्यानन्दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: 'eternal (as) bliss'

• निर्विकल्पम्: free from distinctions
• निर्विकल्पम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvikalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used as determiner

• धाम: abode, splendor
• धाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita framework

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Paramadhama (Supreme Abode)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It describes the Supreme as Brahman that is eternal, partless, and immutable—pure ever-present bliss, beyond all conceptual divisions (nirvikalpa). This points to the Atman’s ultimate identity with the highest, undifferentiated Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic cue is “nirvikalpa”—meditation that quiets thought-constructs and dualistic alternatives. In the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita tone, this aligns with inward absorption (samadhi) where the seeker rests in the partless, steady Brahman as the highest goal.

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

By presenting the Supreme as nirvikalpa Brahman and calling it “My supreme abode,” the text frames the Lord’s identity with the formless Absolute—supporting the Purana’s synthesis where sectarian forms (Shiva/Vishnu) culminate in one non-dual Reality.