Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

एका सर्वान्तरा शक्तिः करोति विविधं जगत् / आस्थाय ब्रह्माणो रूपं मन्मयी मदधिष्ठिता

Transliteration

ekā sarvāntarā śaktiḥ karoti vividhaṃ jagat / āsthāya brahmāṇo rūpaṃ manmayī madadhiṣṭhitā

Translation

ศักติหนึ่งเดียวที่สถิตอยู่ภายในสรรพสิ่งก่อให้เกิดจักรวาลอันหลากหลาย เมื่ออาศัยรูปของพรหมา นางซึ่งเป็นของเราและตั้งมั่นในเรา ย่อมกระทำการภายใต้การอภิบาลอันเป็นใหญ่ของเรา

Word by Word

• एका: one
• एका: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of śaktiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (एक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-अन्तरा: present within all
• सर्व-अन्तरा: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of śaktiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्व-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तरा (अन्तरा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (all-pervading/within all)

• शक्तिः: power
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (शक्ति-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करोति: makes/creates
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विविधम्: varied
• विविधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (विविध-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying jagat)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (जगत्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु √स्था with आ-; कृदन्त अव्यय, ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having assumed/taken refuge’

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (ब्रह्मन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन (of Brahmā)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of āsthāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (रूप-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मन्मयी: consisting of me
• मन्मयी: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of śaktiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्धार्थ ‘my’) + मय (मयट्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मन्मय = made of me)

• मत्-अधिष्ठिता: presided over by me
• मत्-अधिष्ठिता: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of śaktiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (स्था √स्था with अधि-; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; ‘by me presided over/established’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/Indradyumna on the principle of divine Shakti in creation

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śakti

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents a single indwelling divine principle: the universe is produced by one Śakti that is “of Me” (manmayī) and “established in Me” (madadhiṣṭhitā), implying the Supreme is the inner ground of all activity while remaining the presiding reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Ishvara-centered meditation: contemplate the one inner Śakti operating in all beings and functions, and stabilize awareness in the presiding Lord (adhiṣṭhātṛ-bhāva). This aligns with Kurma Purana’s theistic-yogic emphasis where realization comes by seeing all powers as resting in Ishvara.

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

By framing creation through one supreme presiding Ishvara and a single all-pervading Śakti, it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: divine agency is unified at the highest level, harmonizing Shaiva-Shakti language with Vaishnava Ishvara-theology.