Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

एकं पादमथैकस्मिन् विन्यस्योरुणि सत्तमाः / आसीतार्धासनमिदं योगसाधनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

ekaṃ pādamathaikasmin vinyasyoruṇi sattamāḥ / āsītārdhāsanamidaṃ yogasādhanamuttamam

Translation

Hỡi bậc hiền đức tối thượng, đặt một bàn chân lên đùi bên kia rồi an tọa—đó gọi là Ardhāsana (Tư thế Nửa Ngồi), trợ duyên thù thắng cho sự tu tập Yoga.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular neuter); विशेषणम्

• पादम्: foot
• पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular masculine)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• एकस्मिन्: in one (place)
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular); विशेषणम्

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘विन्यस्य’ = having placed; उपसर्ग: वि+नि

• ऊरुणि: on the thigh
• ऊरुणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular masculine)

• सत्तमाः: the best (persons)
• सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural masculine); ‘श्रेष्ठाः’ इत्यर्थे

• आसीत: was
• आसीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्धासनम्: half-posture (half-seat)
• अर्धासनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः: ‘अर्धं च तत् आसनम्’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता; विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); सर्वनाम

• योगसाधनम्: means of yoga
• योगसाधनम्: Karta (कर्ता; विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘योगस्य साधनम्’

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular neuter); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing sages/King Indradyumna in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Ishvara Gita
• Pashupata Yoga
• Ardhasana

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing a stabilizing yogic posture, it supports the inward discipline through which the yogin becomes fit for Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna), a key aim of the Ishvara Gita’s spiritual path.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights āsana as a foundational limb of practice: Ardhasana (half-seat), formed by placing one foot on the opposite thigh, is praised as an excellent support for steadiness required in meditation and Pashupata-oriented yogic discipline.

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

By placing yogic instruction in the mouth of Lord Kurma while framing it within Pashupata-style discipline, the text models a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Vishnu teaches a yoga idiom strongly associated with Shiva’s ascetic tradition.