Shloka 28
Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara
बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं शौचं द्विधा प्रोक्तं द्विजोत्तमाः / मृज्जलाभ्यां स्मृतं बाह्यं मनःशुद्धिरथान्तरम्
bāhyamābhyantaraṃ śaucaṃ dvidhā proktaṃ dvijottamāḥ / mṛjjalābhyāṃ smṛtaṃ bāhyaṃ manaḥśuddhirathāntaram
โอผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ทวิชะ ความบริสุทธิ์ (เศาจะ) กล่าวว่ามีสองอย่าง คือภายนอกและภายใน ความบริสุทธิ์ภายนอกได้ด้วยดินและน้ำ ส่วนความบริสุทธิ์ภายในคือความผ่องใสแห่งจิต
Lord Kūrma (as Īśvara) instructing the sages (dvijottamāḥ) within the Ishvara Gita discourse
Primary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By prioritizing manaḥ-śuddhi (purification of mind) as true inner purity, the verse implies that realization of the Self/Īśvara depends on inner transformation rather than merely outward ritual cleanliness.
It frames a core yogic prerequisite: internal śauca—cleansing the mind through restraint, ethical discipline, and contemplative purification—supporting Pāśupata-oriented practice where inner purity enables steadiness in japa, dhyāna, and devotion to Īśvara.
While not naming Śiva-Viṣṇu explicitly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the same Īśvara teaches yogic inner purity as the decisive factor—an approach shared across Śaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaiṣṇava devotional frameworks.