Shloka 14

Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā

Devanagari script

नृणां नि:श्रेयसार्थाय व्यक्तिर्भगवतो नृप । अव्ययस्याप्रमेयस्य निर्गुणस्य गुणात्मन: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

nṛṇāṁ niḥśreyasārthāya vyaktir bhagavato nṛpa avyayasyāprameyasya nirguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ

Translation

O König, zum höchsten Heil der Menschen erscheint der erhabene Herr in dieser Welt. Er ist unerschöpflich und unermesslich; obwohl jenseits der guṇas, ist Er ihr Lenker.

Synonyms

• nṛṇām: of men/for people
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• niḥśreyasa-arthāya: for the highest good
• niḥśreyasa-arthāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niḥśreyasa + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (niḥśreyasasya arthaḥ)

• vyaktiḥ: manifestation/appearance
• vyaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• avyayasya: of the imperishable
• avyayasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of bhagavataḥ)

• aprameyasya: of the immeasurable
• aprameyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aprameya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• nirguṇasya: of the attributeless
• nirguṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• guṇa-ātmanaḥ: of Him whose nature is (also) the guṇas
• guṇa-ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (guṇāḥ ātmā yasya / guṇaiḥ ātmā) used adjectivally for bhagavataḥ

Purport

Since Lord Kṛṣṇa descends to benefit mankind in general, why would He neglect innocent young girls who loved Him more than anyone else did? Although the Lord awards Himself to His pure devotees, He is avyaya, inexhaustible, because He is aprameya, immeasurable. He is also nirguṇa, free of material qualities, and thus those who intimately associate with Him are on the same spiritual platform. He is guṇātmā, the controller or original personality behind the modes of nature, and it is specifically for this reason that He is free of them. In other words, because the modes of nature are His energy, they cannot act upon Him.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why Krishna appears in this world?

This verse says Bhagavān manifests His personal form for the niḥśreyasa (highest good) of human beings—guiding them toward liberation and devotion.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to King Parīkṣit?

While narrating Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā context, Śukadeva clarifies that the Lord’s humanlike pastimes are not material; His appearance is for the spiritual upliftment of all.

How can I apply the teaching of ‘nirguṇa yet guṇātmā’ in modern life?

See God as beyond material labels and limitations, yet the source of all virtues—then cultivate devotion and character (truthfulness, compassion, purity) as a path to inner freedom.