Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

तस्मादात्माक्षरः शुद्धो नित्यः सर्वगतो ऽव्ययः / उपासितव्यो मन्तव्यः श्रोतव्यश्च मुमुक्षुभिः

Transliteration

tasmādātmākṣaraḥ śuddho nityaḥ sarvagato 'vyayaḥ / upāsitavyo mantavyaḥ śrotavyaśca mumukṣubhiḥ

Translation

ฉะนั้น อาตมันผู้เป็นอักษร บริสุทธิ์ นิรันดร์ แผ่ซ่านทั่ว และไม่เสื่อมสลาย พึงเป็นที่อุปาสนา พึงใคร่ครวญ และพึงสดับฟังโดยผู้ใฝ่โมกษะ

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति निपातवत् अव्ययप्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे (ablatival indeclinable use: ‘therefore/from that’)

• ātma-akṣaraḥ: the imperishable Self
• ātma-akṣaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ātmanaḥ akṣaraḥ) ‘imperishable Self’

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• nityaḥ: eternal
• nityaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• sarva-gataḥ: all-pervading
• sarva-gataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘gone everywhere’; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (from √gam) used adjectivally

• avyayaḥ: unchanging
• avyayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• upāsitavyaḥ: to be worshipped
• upāsitavyaḥ: Vidhi (विधिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa+ās (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तव्यत्-कृदन्तः (gerundive/obligatory) ‘to be worshipped/meditated upon’

• mantavyaḥ: to be contemplated
• mantavyaḥ: Vidhi (विधिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तव्यत्-कृदन्तः ‘to be thought/considered’

• śrotavyaḥ: to be listened to
• śrotavyaḥ: Vidhi (विधिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तव्यत्-कृदन्तः ‘to be heard’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• mumukṣubhiḥ: by seekers of liberation
• mumukṣubhiḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mumukṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; इच्छार्थक-प्रातिपदिक (desiderative noun) ‘those desiring liberation’; कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent of obligation)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Ishvara-style teaching on Ātman and mokṣa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Akshara (Imperishable)
• Mumukshu (seeker of moksha)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It defines the Self as akṣara—imperishable—characterized by purity, eternality, all-pervasiveness, and freedom from decay, indicating an unchanging reality beyond bodily and mental change.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to a jñāna-oriented discipline: hearing sacred teaching (śravaṇa), reflective inquiry (manana), and sustained devotional contemplation (upāsanā), a practical triad used to stabilize realization for the mumukṣu.

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

By centering on the imperishable Ātman as the object of upāsanā and knowledge, it aligns with the Purāṇic synthesis where sectarian forms (Śiva/Vişṇu) converge in the one, all-pervading, undecaying Reality.