Shloka 50

Invocation, Purāṇa Lakṣaṇas, Kurma at the Samudra-manthana, and Indradyumna’s Liberation Teaching

Iśvara-Gītā Prelude

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा मां वासुदेवाख्यं यत्र द्वे निहिते ऽक्षरे / विद्याविद्ये गूढरूपे यत्तद् ब्रह्म परं विदुः

Transliteration

jñātvā māṃ vāsudevākhyaṃ yatra dve nihite 'kṣare / vidyāvidye gūḍharūpe yattad brahma paraṃ viduḥ

Translation

‘వాసుదేవ’ అనే నన్ను తెలుసుకొని—నాలో గూఢరూపంగా స్థితమైన రెండు అక్షయ తత్త్వాలు, విద్యా మరియు అవిద్యా—అదే జ్ఞానులు పరబ్రహ్మమని తెలుసుకుంటారు.

Word by Word

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vāsudevākhyam: named Vasudeva
• vāsudevākhyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudevākhya (वासुदेवाख्य)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (यत्र)
• Form: Relative Adverb

• dve: two
• dve: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (द्वि)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• nihite: placed/situated
• nihite: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihita (निहित)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual. Kta Pratyaya

• akṣare: imperishables/syllables
• akṣare: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣara (अक्षर)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• vidyāvidye: knowledge and ignorance
• vidyāvidye: Samanadhikarana (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyāvidyā (विद्याविद्या)
• Form: Feminine (Dual form), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• gūḍharūpe: hidden in form
• gūḍharūpe: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gūḍharūpa (गूढरूप)
• Form: Neuter/Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• brahma: Brahman/Supreme Reality
• brahma: Karma (Object/कर्म) or Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (पर)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• viduḥ: they know
• viduḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (विद्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect - used as Present), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Plural

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna and the sages (Īśvara-gītā discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Brahman
• Vidyā
• Avidyā

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as Vāsudeva/Brahman, the imperishable reality within which both vidyā (liberating insight) and avidyā (bondage-producing ignorance) subsist; realizing Him is realizing the Supreme Brahman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to jñāna-yoga as direct realization—discriminating between vidyā and avidyā and turning the mind toward the imperishable Lord (Īśvara) as the inner ground of both, a key contemplative stance in the Īśvara-gītā’s liberation teaching.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the one imperishable Brahman beyond dualities like knowledge/ignorance, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest reality is one, approached through different divine names and forms (including Vaiṣṇava Vāsudeva and Śaiva Īśvara).