Shloka 27
Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release
सत्त्वं ज्ञानं तमो ऽज्ञानं रजो मिश्रमुदाहृतम् / गुणानां बुद्धिवैषम्याद् वैषम्यं कवयो विदुः
sattvaṃ jñānaṃ tamo 'jñānaṃ rajo miśramudāhṛtam / guṇānāṃ buddhivaiṣamyād vaiṣamyaṃ kavayo viduḥ
സത്ത്വം ജ്ഞാനസ്വരൂപം, തമസ് അജ്ഞാനം, രജസ് മിശ്രാവസ്ഥ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു. ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ അസമ പ്രാധാന്യത്തിൽ നിന്നാണ് ബുദ്ധിയുടെ വൈവിധ്യം ഉണ്ടാകുന്നതെന്ന് കവിജ്ഞാനികൾ അറിയുന്നു.
Lord Kūrma (as Īśvara), instructing the sages (Iśvara Gītā context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By distinguishing knowledge (sattva) from ignorance (tamas) and the mixed drive of rajas, the verse implies that bondage and clarity belong to the guṇas and buddhi, not to the Atman/Īśvara, who is to be realized when these guṇic distortions are purified.
The verse points to guṇa-śuddhi (purifying the guṇas) as a practical aim: cultivate sattva through disciplined conduct, steady contemplation, and devotion to Īśvara, reduce tamas through wakefulness and clarity, and pacify rajas through restraint—core to the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning Yoga ethos.
In the Ishvara Gita voice of Lord Kūrma, the teaching is framed as universal Īśvara-jñāna: guṇas govern embodied cognition, while the Supreme Lord stands beyond them—harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava metaphysics by centering liberation on devotion and knowledge of the one Īśvara.