Shloka 8

Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release

Devanagari script

पर्वतानामहं मेरुर्नक्षत्राणां च चन्द्रमाः / वज्रं प्रहरणानां च व्रतानां सत्यमस्म्यहम्

Transliteration

parvatānāmahaṃ merurnakṣatrāṇāṃ ca candramāḥ / vajraṃ praharaṇānāṃ ca vratānāṃ satyamasmyaham

Translation

पर्वतानां मध्येऽहं मेरुः, नक्षत्राणां मध्ये चन्द्रमाः। प्रहरणानां मध्ये वज्रं, व्रतानां मध्ये सत्यमस्म्यहम्॥

Word by Word

• parvatānām: of mountains
• parvatānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• meruḥ: Meru
• meruḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nakṣatrāṇām: of stars/constellations
• nakṣatrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• candramāḥ: the Moon
• candramāḥ: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vajram: Vajra (thunderbolt)
• vajram: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) (also Accusative 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); here predicate nominative

• praharaṇānām: of weapons
• praharaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vratānām: of vows
• vratānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) (also Accusative 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

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

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking as the Supreme, teaching through a catalogue of divine excellences

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Chandra (Moon)
• Vajra
• Satya (Truth)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as immanent—recognized as the highest exemplar within every class (mountains, stars, weapons, vows), implying one Ishvara/Atman shining through all forms as their defining excellence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights satya (truthfulness) as the chief vrata—an ethical discipline that stabilizes the mind and supports yogic concentration (dhyāna) and inner purity, consistent with Kurma Purana’s dharma-grounded spirituality.

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

By asserting a single supreme principle manifesting as the best in all domains, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian stance: Shiva and Vishnu are approached as expressions of one Ishvara rather than competing deities.