Shloka 3

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

गुह्याद् गुह्यतमं साक्षाद् गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः / वक्ष्ये भक्तिमतामद्य युष्माकं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्

Transliteration

guhyād guhyatamaṃ sākṣād gopanīyaṃ prayatnataḥ / vakṣye bhaktimatāmadya yuṣmākaṃ brahmavādinām

Translation

மறைவினும் மிகமறைவான, நேரடியான உண்மையான—முயற்சியுடன் காக்க வேண்டிய—அந்த உபதேசத்தை இன்று உங்களாகிய பக்தரும் பிரம்மவாதிகளும் கேட்க நான் உரைக்கிறேன்.

Word by Word

• गुह्यात्: from the secret (teaching)
• गुह्यात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• गुह्यतमम्: the most secret
• गुह्यतमम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative)

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गोपनीयम्: to be kept secret
• गोपनीयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपनीय (कृदन्त; √गुप् (धातु) + अनीयर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनीयर्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: “to be kept/should be kept”)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort, carefully
• प्रयत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall speak
• वक्ष्ये: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तिमताम्: of the devoted (ones)
• भक्तिमताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अद्य: today, now
• अद्य: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• युष्माकम्: of you (all)
• युष्माकम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मवादिनाम्: of the expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः वादिन् (“speaker of Brahman”)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) speaking to the sages (brahmavadins), introducing the Ishvara Gita teaching

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Brahman
• Bhakti
• Brahmavadins

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By calling the teaching “sākṣāt” (direct), the verse points to Atman/Brahman as something to be immediately realized—not merely inferred—through inner realization supported by devotion and right instruction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse functions as a preface: it frames the coming Yoga-shastra as a guarded, initiatory instruction (gopanīyam) meant for qualified devotees and Brahman-seekers—typical of Pashupata-oriented discipline where practice is transmitted carefully and lived as sādhanā rather than discussed casually.

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

While not naming Shiva explicitly, the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita setting is known for harmonizing devotion and Brahman-knowledge across sectarian lines; the “most secret” teaching is presented as universal Ishvara-tattva guidance rather than a narrow, exclusive doctrine.