Shloka 19

Divine Abodes on the Mountains — A Sacred Survey of Jambūdvīpa

Kailāsa to Siddha Realms

Devanagari script

सर्वे योगरताः शान्ता भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः / उपासते महावीर्या ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणाः

Transliteration

sarve yogaratāḥ śāntā bhasmoddhūlitavigrahāḥ / upāsate mahāvīryā brahmavidyāparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

सर्वे योगरताः शान्ता भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः । उपासते महावीर्या ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणाः ॥

Word by Word

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• yoga-ratāḥ: devoted to yoga
• yoga-ratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त; √ram रम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; ‘रक्त/रत’ (past participle sense) = योगे रताः

• śāntāḥ: peaceful, calm
• śāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (कृदन्त; √śam शम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• bhasma-uddhūlita-vigrahāḥ: whose bodies are smeared with ash
• bhasma-uddhūlita-vigrahāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhūlita (कृदन्त; √dhūl धूल् with ud-) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: भस्मना उद्धूलितः विग्रहः येषाम्/येषां (sense: bodies dusted with ash)

• upāsate: they worship
• upāsate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ās (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• mahā-vīryāḥ: of great prowess
• mahā-vīryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः = महत् वīryam येषाम्

• brahma-vidyā-parāyaṇāḥ: devoted to the knowledge of Brahman
• brahma-vidyā-parāyaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ब्रह्मविद्यायां परायणाः (wholly devoted to Brahma-knowledge)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) describing the Shaiva-Yogic aspirants and their observances

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Brahmavidyā
• Bhasma (sacred ash)
• Yoga

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By praising devotion to brahmavidyā (knowledge of Brahman), the verse points to liberation through direct insight into the Supreme Reality, with Yoga and inner peace as its practical supports.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights steady Yoga-abidance (yogaratāḥ), śānti (tranquility), and upāsanā (devotional contemplation/worship), along with the Shaiva marker of bhasma (sacred ash) indicating renunciation, purity, and disciplined observance.

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

With Vishnu (as Lord Kūrma) commending ash-bearing, Brahman-knowing worshippers, the text reflects a synthesis: Shaiva ascetic signs and Pāśupata-style discipline are affirmed within a Vaishnava narration, emphasizing one Brahman-realization beyond sectarian difference.