Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 21
Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
वचस्युपरतेऽप्राप्य य एको मनसा सह । अनामरूपश्चिन्मात्र: सोऽव्यान्न: सदसत्पर: ॥ २१ ॥
vacasy uparate ’prāpya ya eko manasā saha anāma-rūpaś cin-mātraḥ so ’vyān naḥ sad-asat-paraḥ
The words and mind of the conditioned soul cannot approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for material names and forms are not applicable to the Lord, who is entirely spiritual, beyond the conception of gross and subtle forms. The impersonal Brahman is another of His forms. May He, by His pleasure, protect us.
The impersonal Brahman, which is the effulgence of the Lord, is described in this verse.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme is not attainable by speech and not graspable even by the mind; He is one, formless in the sense of being beyond material name and form, and is pure consciousness.
In his prayer, Vṛtrāsura emphasizes the Lord’s transcendence over material designation—showing that the Supreme cannot be limited by mental concepts, words, or worldly categories of existence and non-existence.
Practice humility in spiritual understanding: chant and pray with devotion, study scripture, and recognize that ultimate reality exceeds intellectual control—so cultivate surrender, steadiness, and reverence rather than mere argument.