Shloka 54

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

सत्यज्ञानानन्तानन्दमात्रैकरसमूर्तय: । अस्पृष्टभूरिमाहात्म्या अपि ह्युपनिषद्‍‌द‍ृशाम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

satya-jñānānantānanda- mātraika-rasa-mūrtayaḥ aspṛṣṭa-bhūri-māhātmyā api hy upaniṣad-dṛśām

Translation

All jene Viṣṇu-Gestalten waren ewig und unbegrenzt, von einem einzigen Wesen: Wahrheit, Erkenntnis und Wonne, jenseits des Einflusses der Zeit. Ihre überragende Herrlichkeit ist selbst für die jñānīs, die die Upaniṣaden studieren, unberührbar.

Synonyms

• satya-jñāna-ananta-ānanda-mātra-eka-rasa-mūrtayaḥ: (they) whose forms are of one essence consisting solely of truth, knowledge, infinity, and bliss
• satya-jñāna-ananta-ānanda-mātra-eka-rasa-mūrtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya + jñāna + ananta + ānanda + mātra + eka + rasa + mūrti (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (plural); बहुव्रीहिः—‘येषां मूर्तयः ...’ (those whose forms are ...)

• aspṛṣṭa-bhūri-māhātmyāḥ: whose immense greatness is untouched (by anything)
• aspṛṣṭa-bhūri-māhātmyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-spṛṣṭa (√spṛś धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + bhūri + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (plural); बहुव्रीहिः—‘येषां माहात्म्यं ...’ (whose greatness is ...)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) expressing concession/‘even’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• upaniṣat-dṛśām: of the seers of the Upaniṣads
• upaniṣat-dṛśām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaniṣad + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक; √dṛś धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana (plural); तत्पुरुषः—उपनिषदां द्रष्टॄणाम्

Purport

Mere śāstra jñāna, or knowledge in the Vedas, does not help anyone understand the Personality of Godhead. Only one who is favored or shown mercy by the Lord can understand Him. This is also explained in the Upaniṣads ( Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.2.3):

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.54 say about Kṛṣṇa and sat-cit-ānanda?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s manifestations as forms of a single, indivisible essence—truth (satya), knowledge (jñāna), infinity (ananta), and bliss (ānanda)—indicating the Supreme’s fully spiritual nature.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī say even the Upaniṣads cannot reach this glory?

He emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa’s personal, unlimited greatness surpasses what is typically approached through impersonal or purely philosophical Upaniṣadic analysis; His fullness is best realized through His own revelation and devotion.

Practical application: how should a devotee use this teaching in modern life?

Approach spiritual truth with humility—combine study with bhakti (hearing, chanting, and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa), recognizing that the Supreme is ultimately known by devotion, not by intellect alone.