Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

गृहे वा सुशुभे रम्ये विजने जन्तुवर्जिते / युञ्जीत योगी सततमात्मानं मत्परायणः

Transliteration

gṛhe vā suśubhe ramye vijane jantuvarjite / yuñjīta yogī satatamātmānaṃ matparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

गृहे वा सुशुभे रम्ये विजने जन्तुवर्जिते, मत्परायणो योगी सततमात्मानं योगे युञ्जीत।

Word by Word

• गृहे: in a house
• गृहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive 'or')

• सु-शुभे: in a very auspicious (place)
• सु-शुभे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रम्ये: in a pleasant (place)
• रम्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विजने: in a secluded place
• विजने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (lonely/solitary)

• जन्तु-वर्जिते: in a place free of living beings
• जन्तु-वर्जिते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (जन्तुभिः वर्जितम् = devoid of creatures)

• युञ्जीत: should practice/engage (in yoga)
• युञ्जीत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष? actually तृतीयपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'he should yoke/engage'

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always/constantly)

• आत्मानम्: the self
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मत्-परायणः: having Me as his sole refuge/goal
• मत्-परायणः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of योगी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-शब्द; प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मम परायणः = having me as the supreme refuge/goal)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita to King Indradyumna (via the sages’ narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Atman
• Yoga
• Ishvara (the Lord)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames Yoga as the steadying and inner unification of the ātman, undertaken with Īśvara (the Lord) as the highest refuge and goal—showing that Self-realization is pursued through God-centered discipline rather than mere technique.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes choosing a conducive setting—either a well-ordered home or a quiet, undisturbed solitude—and then practicing continuously (satatam) with focused commitment (yuñjīta), indicating sustained meditation and mind-integration as the core discipline.

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

By using the Ishvara-centered stance (matparāyaṇaḥ) within the Kurma Purana’s syncretic theology, the verse supports a non-sectarian Īśvara principle—where devotion to the Supreme harmonizes Shaiva and Vaishnava paths through a shared Yoga of the Lord.