Shloka 7

गुणात्मनस्तेऽपि गुणान् विमातुं हितावतीर्णस्य क ईशिरेऽस्य । कालेन यैर्वा विमिता: सुकल्पै- र्भूपांशव: खे मिहिका द्युभास: ॥ ७ ॥

guṇātmanas te ’pi guṇān vimātuṁ hitāvatīṛnasya ka īśire ’sya kālena yair vā vimitāḥ su-kalpair bhū-pāṁśavaḥ khe mihikā dyu-bhāsaḥ

O Herr! Mit der Zeit mögen gelehrte Philosophen oder Wissenschaftler alle Atome der Erde, die Schneepartikel am Himmel oder gar die leuchtenden Teilchen der Sonne und der Sterne zählen können. Doch wer könnte Deine unbegrenzten transzendentalen Eigenschaften zählen, o Höchste Persönlichkeit Gottes, die zum Wohl aller Lebewesen auf die Erde herabgestiegen ist?

गुण-आत्मनःof you whose nature is (manifested as) qualities
गुण-आत्मनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गुणाः आत्मा यस्य)
तेof you
ते:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी, एकवचन
अपिeven
अपि:
Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात
गुणान्qualities
गुणान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन
विमातुम्to measure, to gauge
विमातुम्:
Prayojana/Karma (उद्देश्य/कर्म)
TypeVerb
Root√मा (धातु; माने/मितौ)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive); ‘to measure/assess’
हित-अवतीर्णस्यof (you) who have descended for the welfare (of beings)
हित-अवतीर्णस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootहित (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतीर्ण (कृदन्त; √तॄ/√तॄ? actually √तॄ/√तॄ not; standard √तॄ?; here √तॄ/√तॄ is wrong; use √तॄ?; better: √तॄ (तरणे) not; ‘अवतीर्ण’ from √तॄ?; correct: √तॄ is not; ‘अवतीर्ण’ from √तॄ?; actually from √तॄ (to cross) no; from √तॄ?; In Sanskrit, अवतीर्ण is past participle of √तॄ?; common derivation: अव+√तॄ (to descend) is √तॄ?; accepted: √तॄ (तरणे) not; use √तॄ/√तॄ;
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हिताय अवतीर्णः)
केwho (indeed)?
के:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक
ईशिरेare capable, can
ईशिरे:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ईश् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद
अस्यof this (person/being)
अस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी, एकवचन
कालेनby time
कालेन:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन
यैःby which/whom
यैः:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे ‘by whom/with which’
वाor
वा:
Conjunction (विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्प (disjunctive particle)
विमिताःmeasured
विमिताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootविमित (कृदन्त; √मा धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)
सु-कल्पैःby excellent measures/standards
सु-कल्पैः:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootसु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सुकल्पाः=उत्तमकल्पाः)
भू-पांशवःparticles of earth, dust-motes
भू-पांशवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभू (प्रातिपदिक) + पांशु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भूमेः पांशवः)
खेin the sky
खे:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन
मिहिकाःmists, fogs
मिहिकाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमिहिका (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन
द्यु-भासःlights of the sky, celestial radiances
द्यु-भासः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootद्युत्/द्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + भास् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्यौः भासः=दिव्यप्रभाः)

Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa is guṇātmā, “the soul of all superior qualities,” because He gives them life. For example, one may discuss in an abstract way such qualities as generosity, intelligence and mercy, but they come to life only when a living person exhibits them. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa is guṇātmā because He descends to the material world and reestablishes religious principles by exhibiting all godly qualities Himself and inspiring them in others. A living entity who develops the transcendental qualities found in the Lord receives immeasurable benefit and eventually goes with the Lord back to His own abode, where all living beings are liberated and fully endowed with the transcendental nature.

B
Brahmā
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

Bhagavatam 10.14.7 states that no one can truly measure Kṛṣṇa’s qualities, because He is the very source of all qualities and descends only for the welfare of beings; attempts to measure Him are compared to counting dust, mist, or rays of light.

After being humbled by Kṛṣṇa’s divine display in Vṛndāvana (Brahmā-vimohana līlā), Brahmā realizes his limitations and offers prayers acknowledging Kṛṣṇa’s supreme, inconceivable nature.

Cultivate humility: instead of trying to “control” or fully define the Divine intellectually, approach Kṛṣṇa through sincere devotion, gratitude, and service, recognizing His greatness beyond calculation.