Shloka 29

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

स्तुतिस्मरणपूजाभिर्वाङ्मनःकायकर्मभिः / सुनिश्चला शिवे भक्तिरेतदीश्वरपूजनम्

Transliteration

stutismaraṇapūjābhirvāṅmanaḥkāyakarmabhiḥ / suniścalā śive bhaktiretadīśvarapūjanam

Translation

स्तुतिस्मरणपूजाभिर्वाङ्मनःकायकर्मभिः। यदा शिवे भक्तिḥ सुनिश्चला भवति तदेवेश्वरपूजनम्॥

Word by Word

• stuti-smaraṇa-pūjābhiḥ: by praise, remembrance, and worship
• stuti-smaraṇa-pūjābhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक) + smaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वः—‘with praise, remembrance, and worship’

• vāk-manaḥ-kāya-karmabhiḥ: with speech, mind, body, and actions
• vāk-manaḥ-kāya-karmabhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वः—‘with (acts of) speech, mind, body, and deeds’

• su-niścalā: very steady; unwavering
• su-niścalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग) + niścalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying bhaktiḥ

• śive: in/for Śiva
• śive: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• īśvara-pūjanam: worship of the Lord
• īśvara-pūjanam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘worship of the Lord’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching the Īśvara-gītā doctrine to the sages/seekers

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames realization-oriented worship as inner steadiness: when devotion becomes unwavering in mind, speech, and action, worship is fulfilled as a stable orientation to Īśvara rather than a mere external rite—hinting that the essential ‘seat’ of worship is the inner self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes an integrated sādhana: stuti (devotional recitation), smaraṇa (continuous mindful remembrance), and pūjā (ritual upāsanā), unified across vāṅ-manas-kāya (speech–mind–body). This aligns with Pāśupata-style discipline where inner recollection and ethical/ritual conduct converge into steady bhakti.

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

With Lord Kūrma teaching that unwavering bhakti to Śiva is true Īśvara-worship, the text presents a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Śiva is honored as Īśvara, while the teaching authority is Viṣṇu (Kūrma), implying unity of the Supreme across names and forms.