Shloka 12

Iśvara on Māyā, the Unmanifest, and the Viśvarūpa of the One Supreme

Devanagari script

यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते अप्राप्य मनसा सह / आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् विभेति न कुतश्चन

Transliteration

yato vāco nivartante aprāpya manasā saha / ānandaṃ brahmaṇo vidvān vibheti na kutaścana

Translation

Thực tại ấy, nơi lời nói phải quay về vì không thể chạm tới, cùng với cả tâm trí: bậc trí, biết an lạc của Phạm (Brahman), chẳng hề sợ hãi điều gì từ bất cứ phương nào.

Word by Word

• yataḥ: from which (whence)
• yataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय) meaning 'from which/whence'

• vācaḥ: words/speech
• vācaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nivartante: return/turn back
• nivartante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• aprāpya: not attaining, without reaching
• aprāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a+√prāp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), negated with अ-; indeclinable verbal form

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), postposition/particle meaning 'with' (सह-प्रयोगः)

• ānandam: bliss
• ānandam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidvān: the knower, wise person
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vibheti: fears
• vibheti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√bhī (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• kutaḥ: from where
• kutaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), interrogative/indefinite adverb 'from where/whence'

• cana: at all/any
• cana: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cana (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), enclitic particle; with negation = 'at all/any' (न...चन)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Brahman that cannot be grasped by speech or even the mind; realization is indicated not by conceptual description but by direct knowledge of Brahman’s bliss, which culminates in inner fearlessness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative Yoga where the practitioner transcends verbal thought and mental constructs—moving from discursive meditation to direct insight (aparokṣa-jñāna). In the Kurma Purana’s Ishvara Gita frame, this aligns with inward absorption leading to steadiness and freedom from fear.

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

By centering on Brahman beyond mind and speech, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Reality taught by Lord Kurma is the same supreme principle revered across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, with realization emphasized over sectarian difference.