Shloka 9

Īśvara-gītā: The Supreme Lord as Brahman, the Source of Creation, and the Inner Self

Devanagari script

ईशानः सर्वविद्यानां भूतानां परमेश्वरः / ओङ्कारमूर्तिर्भगवानहं ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

īśānaḥ sarvavidyānāṃ bhūtānāṃ parameśvaraḥ / oṅkāramūrtirbhagavānahaṃ brahmā prajāpatiḥ

Translation

ഞാനാണ് ഈശാനൻ—സകല വിദ്യകളുടെയും അധിപതി, സകല ഭൂതങ്ങളുടെയും പരമേശ്വരൻ. ഓംകാരമൂർത്തിയായ ഭഗവാൻ ഞാനേ; ഞാനേ ബ്രഹ്മാ, പ്രജാപതി.

Word by Word

• īśānaḥ: the Lord, ruler
• īśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-vidyānām: of all knowledges
• sarva-vidyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: sarvāsāṃ vidyānām

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• parama-īśvaraḥ: the supreme Lord
• parama-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: paramaḥ īśvaraḥ

• oṅkāra-mūrtiḥ: whose form is Oṃ
• oṅkāra-mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: oṅkārasya mūrtiḥ / oṅkāra-rūpā

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Pradhāna (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman/brahmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to aham

• prajāpatiḥ: Lord of creatures
• prajāpatiḥ: Pradhāna (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to aham

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking in the Īśvara-gītā voice of the Supreme Īśvara

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Īśāna
• Oṃkāra (Praṇava)
• Brahmā
• Prajāpati
• Parameśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the all-governing Īśvara who pervades knowledge and beings, and identifies that Supreme with the Praṇava (Oṃ) itself—indicating an ultimate, all-inclusive divine reality underlying creation.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

By declaring the Lord as Oṃkāra-mūrti, the verse points to praṇava-upāsanā (meditation on Oṃ) as a direct contemplative approach in the Īśvara-gītā framework, aligning devotion and yogic concentration on the sonic-symbolic form of Īśvara.

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

Using the name Īśāna (a Śaiva title) while spoken by Lord Kūrma (a Vaiṣṇava form), it affirms a non-sectarian identity of the Supreme—one Īśvara expressed through multiple divine names and functions, including Brahmā/Prajāpati as the creative office.