Shloka 41
Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion
मया प्रोक्तो हि भवतां योगः प्रागेव निर्गुणः / आरुरुक्षुस्तु सगुणं पूजयेत् परमेश्वरम्
mayā prokto hi bhavatāṃ yogaḥ prāgeva nirguṇaḥ / ārurukṣustu saguṇaṃ pūjayet parameśvaram
నేను మీకు ముందే నిర్గుణ యోగాన్ని ఉపదేశించాను; కానీ ఇంకా ఎదగాలని ప్రయత్నించే వాడు పరమేశ్వరుని సగుణ రూపంలో పూజించాలి।
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (in the Ishvara-gītā style teaching of graded practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It affirms a nirguṇa orientation—ultimate reality is beyond qualities—while allowing devotion to a saguṇa Īśvara as a practical support for those not yet established in attributeless realization.
The verse teaches a graded discipline: higher yoga is nirguṇa contemplation, but the aspirant (ārurukṣu) should begin with saguṇa upāsanā—worship and focused devotion to the Lord’s form—as a stabilizing means toward inner absorption.
By using the inclusive title “Parameśvara” for the worshipful Lord while also teaching nirguṇa realization, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian synthesis in which the one Supreme is approached through shared divine forms and ultimately known beyond form.