Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

न मां पश्यन्ति मुनयः सर्वे ऽपि त्रिदिवौकसः / ब्रह्मा च मनवः शक्रो ये चान्ये प्रथितौजसः

Transliteration

na māṃ paśyanti munayaḥ sarve 'pi tridivaukasaḥ / brahmā ca manavaḥ śakro ye cānye prathitaujasaḥ

Translation

เหล่ามุนีไม่อาจเห็นเรา แม้เหล่าผู้อาศัยในสวรรค์ทั้งสามก็ไม่เห็น; ทั้งพรหมา เหล่ามนู ศักระ (อินทรา) และผู้มีเดชเลื่องลืออื่น ๆ ก็ไม่อาจประจักษ์เรา

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative Singular)

• paśyanti: see
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present Indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of munayaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• tridiva-aukasaḥ: dwellers of the three heavens (celestials)
• tridiva-aukasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to munayaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + diva (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tridive okasaḥ = dwellers in heaven)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/subject; additional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• manavaḥ: Manus
• manavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; additional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; additional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/subject; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता/subject; additional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• prathita-ojasaḥ: of famed might
• prathita-ojasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ye/anye)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathita (कृदन्त; √prath/प्रथ्) + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (prathitam ojaḥ yeṣām = whose vigor is renowned)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) speaking to King Indradyumna (in the Purva-bhāga narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Munis
• Tridivaukasa (Devas)
• Brahma
• Manus
• Shakra (Indra)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as beyond ordinary perception—even by Brahmā, Indra, and great sages—implying that the highest Self/Iśvara is not an object of the senses but is realized through deeper spiritual insight.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies the need for inward realization rather than external sight—aligning with dhyāna (meditation), samādhi-oriented discipline, and devotion (bhakti) as means to “see” the Lord beyond the reach of celestial power or intellectual status.

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

By stressing one transcendent Lord beyond the grasp of even the highest devas, the Kurma Purana supports a non-sectarian, non-dual tone where supreme divinity is singular—harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava approaches through the shared principle of Iśvara’s transcendence.