Shloka 16

Īśvara-gītā: Bhakti as the Supreme Means; the Three Śaktis; Non-compelled Lordship

Devanagari script

अहमेव हि सर्वेषां योगिनां गुरुरव्ययः / धार्मिकाणां च गोप्ताहं निहन्ता वेदविद्विषाम्

Transliteration

ahameva hi sarveṣāṃ yogināṃ gururavyayaḥ / dhārmikāṇāṃ ca goptāhaṃ nihantā vedavidviṣām

Translation

เราแต่ผู้เดียวเป็นคุรุอันไม่เสื่อมของโยคีทั้งปวง; เราเป็นผู้พิทักษ์ผู้ทรงธรรม และเป็นผู้ทำลายผู้เกลียดชังพระเวท

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन, प्रथमा

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः); षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• गुरुः: teacher
• गुरुः: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative) अहम् प्रति

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta/Predicate qualifier (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण गुरुः/अहम् प्रति

• धार्मिकाणाम्: of the righteous
• धार्मिकाणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘धर्मशीलानाम्’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• गोप्ता: protector
• गोप्ता: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुप् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन, प्रथमा (गोप्ता इत्यस्य सह-अभिधान)

• निहन्ता: destroyer
• निहन्ता: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• वेदविद्विषाम्: of the haters of the Veda
• वेदविद्विषाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विद्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘वेदस्य विद्विषः’); सम्बन्धे

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu as Ishvara, teaching the Ishvara Gita)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Veda
• Dharma
• Yogins
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord as avyaya (imperishable) and as the universal Guru—indicating an unchanging, transcendent Ishvara who guides yogic realization and upholds dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the yogic path as guru-centered and Ishvara-oriented: yogins attain steadiness through instruction and grace of the imperishable Lord, aligning practice with dharma and Vedic authority.

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

By framing a single Ishvara as the supreme Guru and protector of dharma—an Ishvara Gita hallmark—the Kurma Purana supports a non-sectarian synthesis where the one Lord (under Shiva/Vishnu names) safeguards Vedic dharma.