Shloka 51

Īśvara-gītā: Antaryāmin, Kāla, and the Divine Ordinance Governing Creation, Preservation, and Pralaya

Devanagari script

अहं हि भगवानीशः स्वयं ज्योतिः सनातनः / परमात्मा परं ब्रह्म मत्तो ह्यन्यन्न विद्यते

Transliteration

ahaṃ hi bhagavānīśaḥ svayaṃ jyotiḥ sanātanaḥ / paramātmā paraṃ brahma matto hyanyanna vidyate

Translation

Я один — Благой Господь, Владыка-Иша; Я сам — вечный Свет. Я — Высшее Я, Высший Брахман; кроме Меня, ничто иное не существует.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ ‘indeed/for’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition) to अहम्/भगवान्

• स्वयम्: by myself
• स्वयम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), आत्मनः-प्रयोग ‘by oneself’

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ईशः/भगवान्)

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परमः आत्मा

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्म)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मत्तः: from me / than me
• मत्तः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from me/than me’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘anything else’

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘exists/is found’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the Īśvara-gītā doctrine

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma
• Īśvara
• Paramātmā
• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Self (Paramātmā) with the one Īśvara who is self-luminous (svayaṃ-jyotiḥ) and absolute Brahman, affirming that no independent reality exists apart from Him.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplation on the Lord as the eternal inner Light (jyotiḥ) and as Paramātmā; in the Īśvara-gītā context this supports meditative absorption (dhyāna/samādhi) where the yogin realizes all beings and worlds as dependent on the one Supreme.

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

By declaring a single supreme Īśvara as Paramātmā and Brahman, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one, expressed through Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava forms without ultimate division.