Shloka 34

Īśvara-gītā (Adhyāya 2) — Ātma-svarūpa, Māyā, and the Unity of Sāṅkhya–Yoga

Devanagari script

यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति / तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा

Transliteration

yadā bhūtapṛthagbhāvamekasthamanupaśyati / tata eva ca vistāraṃ brahma saṃpadyate tadā

Translation

جب وہ بھوتوں کی جدائی کے بھاؤ کو بھی ‘ایک’ ہی میں قائم دیکھتا ہے، تو اسی ادراک سے وہ برہمن کو پا لیتا ہے—جو اصل بھی ہے اور سارے پھیلاؤ کی حقیقت بھی۔

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'when'

• भूतपृथग्भावम्: the separateness of beings
• भूतपृथग्भावम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta-pṛthag-bhāva (भूतपृथग्भाव) = bhūta (भूत) + pṛthak (पृथक्) + bhāva (भाव) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (acc. sg.); 'the state of separateness of beings'

• एकस्थम्: as abiding in one (place/principle)
• एकस्थम्: विशेषण (viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka-stha (एकस्थ) = eka (एक) + stha (स्थ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. acc. sg.)

• अनुपश्यति: perceives
• अनुपश्यति: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+√paś (पश्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.); 'sees/realizes'

• ततः: thereupon/from that
• ततः: हेतु/अपादानार्थ-सम्बन्ध (cause/source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततः) (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from that/thereupon'

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विस्तारम्: expansion
• विस्तारम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistāra (विस्तार) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्ता (karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• संपद्यते: becomes/attains
• संपद्यते: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√pad (पद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.); 'comes to be/attains'

• तदा: then
• तदा: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'then'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the many beings are not ultimately separate; when their diversity is seen as grounded in the One, one becomes established in Brahman—implying Atman’s non-difference from the Supreme Reality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative discernment (viveka) and one-pointed meditative seeing (anupaśyati): repeatedly observing diversity while recognizing its single substratum—an inner practice aligned with Jnana-Yoga and the Ishvara Gita’s liberation-oriented instruction.

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

By emphasizing Brahman as the single ground of all expansion, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: Shiva and Vishnu are understood as expressions of the one Supreme Reality rather than competing absolutes.