Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

यथा नदीनदा लोके सागरेणैकतां ययुः / तद्वदात्माक्षरेणासौ निष्कलेनैकतां व्रजेत्

Transliteration

yathā nadīnadā loke sāgareṇaikatāṃ yayuḥ / tadvadātmākṣareṇāsau niṣkalenaikatāṃ vrajet

Translation

正如世间江河溪流归入大海而成一味，同样，这具身之我应当归一于不坏之我（Akṣara-Ātman）——无分无裂、无有差别。

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (upamā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable): 'as/just as'

• नदी: rivers
• नदी: कर्ता (karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (नदी) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (nom. pl.)

• नदाः: streams
• नदाः: कर्ता (karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nada (नद) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (nom. pl.)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (लोक) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (loc. sg.)

• सागरेण: by/into the ocean
• सागरेण: करण (karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (सागर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• एकताम्: oneness
• एकताम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekatā (एकता) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• ययुः: went/merged
• ययुः: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd pl.)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: सम्बन्ध (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (तद्वत्) (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्वत्-प्रकारवाचक अव्यय: 'in that manner/likewise'

• आत्माक्षरेण: with the imperishable Self
• आत्माक्षरेण: करण (karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma-akṣara (आत्माक्षर) = ātman (आत्मन्) + akṣara (अक्षर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (अक्षर-प्रधान), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instr. sg.); 'by/with the imperishable Self'

• असौ: he
• असौ: कर्ता (karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (अदस्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (nom. sg.)

• निष्कलेन: partless
• निष्कलेन: विशेषण/करण (modifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣkala (निष्कल) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (instr. sg.): 'partless/without divisions'

• एकताम्: oneness
• एकताम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekatā (एकता) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• व्रजेत्: should attain
• व्रजेत्: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (व्रज्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.); 'should go/attain'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (Ishvara Gita context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Akshara (Imperishable Brahman/Paramatman)
• Atman
• Ocean (sāgara)
• Rivers (nadī)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as Akshara—imperishable and niṣkala (partless)—and teaches that liberation is the jiva’s merging into that undivided Reality, like rivers into the ocean.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to contemplative absorption (dhyāna leading to samādhi) on the Akshara, the partless Self—an Ishvara-Gita style instruction aligned with Pashupata-oriented renunciation of separateness and steady one-pointed meditation on the Supreme.

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

By emphasizing niṣkala Akshara as the single, undivided goal of realization, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Reality taught through Vishnu (Kurma) is the same Supreme principle revered in Shaiva traditions as the transcendent Lord.