Shloka 38

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

यं यं भेदं समाश्रित्य यजन्ति परमेश्वरम् / तत् तद् रूपं समास्थाय प्रददाति फलं शिवः

Transliteration

yaṃ yaṃ bhedaṃ samāśritya yajanti parameśvaram / tat tad rūpaṃ samāsthāya pradadāti phalaṃ śivaḥ

Translation

لوگ جس جس امتیازی تصور (طریقِ عبادت) کا سہارا لے کر پرمیشور کی پرستش کرتے ہیں، شِو وہی وہی روپ اختیار کر کے اسی کے مطابق پھل عطا کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• यम्: whom/which
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• यम्: whom/which (each)
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)

• भेदम्: distinction/form/variation
• भेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाश्रित्य: having resorted to
• समाश्रित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having resorted to/depending on’

• यजन्ति: they worship/sacrifice to
• यजन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• तत्: that (corresponding)
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समास्थाय: having assumed
• समास्थाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having assumed/taken up’

• प्रददाति: gives/bestows
• प्रददाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on the nature of Ishvara and worship

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parameshvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord as one reality that can be approached through many conceptual distinctions; the one Ishvara responds by manifesting in the form aligned with the devotee’s adopted understanding, indicating a unity behind apparent plurality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes iṣṭa-niṣṭhā—steadfast devotion to one’s chosen form of the Lord—supporting meditative concentration (dhyāna) and one-pointed worship; in the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-leaning frame, focused devotion becomes a means to attain the intended spiritual fruit.

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

By having Kurma (Vishnu) teach that Shiva grants the fruits according to diverse approaches, the text reinforces a non-sectarian, integrative vision: the Supreme is accessible through multiple forms, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion rather than opposing them.