Shloka 39
Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman
with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti
अतो गुणांस्तव देवस्य विष्णो स्तोतुं सदा स्मो न हरेः कदापि / नाहं न केशौ न च गीर्न रुद्रो न दक्षकन्या न च मेनकासुता
ato guṇāṃstava devasya viṣṇo stotuṃ sadā smo na hareḥ kadāpi / nāhaṃ na keśau na ca gīrna rudro na dakṣakanyā na ca menakāsutā
Darum, o Viṣṇu—Herr der Götter—sind wir stets damit befasst, Deine Tugenden zu preisen; doch zu keiner Zeit vermag irgendwer Hari vollständig zu verherrlichen. Nicht ich, nicht Keśa, nicht Vāc (die Rede), nicht Rudra; weder die Tochter Dakṣas noch die Tochter Menakās vermögen es.
Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu
Concept: Viṣṇu’s virtues are infinite; even the greatest beings and the very principle of speech cannot exhaust His praise—therefore praise is perpetual and humility is essential.
Vedantic Theme: Anirvacanīyatā / ananta (the Infinite exceeds mind and speech); apauruṣeya limitation of vāk and manas before Brahman/Nārāyaṇa.
Application: Maintain daily stotra/japa with the attitude that practice is offering, not completion; cultivate humility and steadiness rather than seeking ‘perfect’ expression.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general theme): Viṣṇu-nāma and stuti as refuge across karmic states; Garuda Purana: teachings on the insufficiency of worldly/divine power before dharma and the Lord’s ordinance (contextual to adjacent verses)
FAQs
This verse frames praise (stuti) as a continual devotional practice while emphasizing that Hari’s virtues are limitless, keeping the devotee humble and sincere.
Indirectly, it teaches that spiritual progress begins with devotion and humility—recognizing the Supreme as beyond complete description—an attitude that supports right living and prepares one for higher knowledge.
Cultivate daily remembrance and praise of the Divine while avoiding spiritual pride—serve, pray, and study with the understanding that the sacred is greater than any single person’s speech or intellect.