Īśvara-gītā: Vibhūtis of the Supreme Lord and the Paśu–Paśupati Doctrine of Bondage and Release
अविद्यामस्मितां रागं द्वेषं चाभिनिवेशकम् / क्लेशाख्यानचलान् प्राहुः पाशानात्मनिबन्धनान्
avidyāmasmitāṃ rāgaṃ dveṣaṃ cābhiniveśakam / kleśākhyānacalān prāhuḥ pāśānātmanibandhanān
อวิชชา อัสมิตา(ความยึดว่า ‘เรา’) ราคะ ทเวษะ และอภิณิเวศะ(ความยึดติดชีวิต)—สอนว่าเป็น ‘กเลศ’ ห้าประการ เป็นบ่วงอันมั่นคงที่ผูกอาตมันไว้
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching Ishvara Gita doctrine to the sages (in the Indradyumna-linked dialogue frame)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
It implies the Self is intrinsically free, yet appears bound when consciousness is entangled in the five kleśas—these function as pāśas (fetters) that fasten the jīva to saṁsāra until removed by right knowledge and Yoga.
The verse points to the classical Yoga task of klesha-kṣaya (attenuation of afflictions): uprooting avidyā and its derivatives through discernment (viveka), disciplined practice (abhyāsa), detachment (vairāgya), and Ishvara-oriented devotion consistent with Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-inflected Yoga.
By using the shared Yoga-śāstra framework of kleśas and pāśa, the Kurma Purana harmonizes Vaishnava Ishvara-teaching (Kurma/Vishnu as guru) with Shaiva categories (pāśa-bondage and Pāśupata orientation), presenting liberation as one truth expressed through both streams.