Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

योगिनामस्म्यहं शंभुः स्त्रीणां देवी गिरीन्द्रजा / आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्वसूनामस्मि पावकः

Transliteration

yogināmasmyahaṃ śaṃbhuḥ strīṇāṃ devī girīndrajā / ādityānāmahaṃ viṣṇurvasūnāmasmi pāvakaḥ

Translation

യോഗികളിൽ ഞാൻ ശംഭു; സ്ത്രീകളിൽ ഗിരീന്ദ്രജാ ദേവി. ആദിത്യന്മാരിൽ ഞാൻ വിഷ്ണു; വസുക്കളിൽ ഞാൻ പാവകൻ (അഗ്നി)।

Word by Word

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• देवी: Goddess
• देवी: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• गिरीन्द्रजा: daughter of Himālaya (Pārvatī)
• गिरीन्द्रजा: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girīndra + jā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): 'daughter of the lord of mountains'

• आदित्यानाम्: of the Ādityas
• आदित्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• वसूनाम्: of the Vasus
• वसूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• पावकः: Fire (Agni)
• पावकः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking as the Supreme, teaching divine identifications

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Devi (Parvati/Girindrja)
• Vishnu
• Adityas
• Vasus
• Pavaka (Agni)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the inner essence and highest exemplar within every class of beings—revealing a single Ishvara who appears as Śiva, Viṣṇu, Devī, and Agni according to function, thereby implying one underlying Self behind many forms.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

By naming Śambhu as ‘the foremost among yogins,’ the verse points to Śiva as the archetype of yogic mastery—suggesting meditation on Ishvara as the supreme yogin and contemplation of one divinity manifesting through multiple powers (śakti) as a stabilizing practice for devotion and concentration.

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

It treats Śiva and Viṣṇu as supreme manifestations within their respective divine orders, supporting the Kurma Purana’s reconciliatory stance: one Ishvara is praised through both Shaiva and Vaishnava names without contradiction.