Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 88

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

मद्बुद्धयो मां सततं पूजयन्तीह ये जनाः / तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्

Transliteration

madbuddhayo māṃ satataṃ pūjayantīha ye janāḥ / teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham

Translation

Ang mga taong dito na ang pag-unawa ay nakatuon sa Akin at palaging sumasamba sa Akin—sa mga laging tapat na iyon, Ako mismo ang nagdadala ng yoga-kṣema: ang dapat makamtan at ang dapat mapanatili.

Word by Word

• मत्-बुद्धयः: those devoted in understanding to me
• मत्-बुद्धयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मद्बुद्धयः’ (those whose understanding is in me)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (देववाचक), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• पूजयन्ति: worship
• पूजयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• नित्य-अभियुक्तानाम्: of the always engaged
• नित्य-अभियुक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अभियुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—always engaged

• योग-क्षेमम्: acquisition and protection (welfare)
• योग-क्षेमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—योगः च क्षेमः च (acquisition and protection/welfare)

• वहामि: I carry/bring about
• वहामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Śrī Nārāyaṇa) instructing King Indradyumna in the Īśvara-gītā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma
• Nārāyaṇa
• Īśvara (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 a living, responsive Īśvara: when the mind (buddhi) is established in Him, He actively safeguards the devotee’s spiritual attainment and worldly stability—showing the Atman’s highest ground as the Lord who sustains both inner realization and outer life.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Single-pointed devotion (madbuddhi), continuous worship/remembrance (satatam pūjā), and unwavering engagement (nityābhiyukta). In the Īśvara-gītā spirit, this is bhakti as yoga—steady attention to Īśvara that culminates in protection of one’s sādhana and progress.

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

While spoken by Nārāyaṇa as Kūrma, it aligns with the Purāṇa’s synthesis: the one Īśvara—revered through bhakti and yoga—assumes responsibility for the devotee, a teaching compatible with both Vaiṣṇava devotion and Śaiva/Pāśupata emphasis on steadfast dedication to the Lord.