Shloka 40
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
ब्रह्मोवाच नमस्ते श्रितसत्त्वाय धर्मादीनां च सूतये । निर्गुणाय च यत्काष्ठां नाहं वेदापरेऽपि च ॥ ४० ॥
brahmovāca namas te śrita-sattvāya dharmādīnāṁ ca sūtaye nirguṇāya ca yat-kāṣṭhāṁ nāhaṁ vedāpare ’pi ca
Brahmā said: O Lord, I offer obeisances unto You, the shelter of sattva and thus the source of dharma, austerity, and penance. You are beyond the material guṇas; neither I nor anyone else fully knows Your true position.
In the material world there is the trinity of the three material qualities. Lord Viṣṇu has accepted the superintendence of the quality of goodness, which is the source of religion, knowledge, austerity, renunciation, opulence, etc. Because of this, actual peace, prosperity, knowledge and religion can be attained when the living entities are under the control of the quality of goodness in the material world. As soon as they are subjected to the control of the other two qualities, namely passion and ignorance, their precarious conditional life becomes intolerable. But Lord Viṣṇu, in His original position, is always nirguṇa, which means transcendental to these material qualities. Guṇa means “quality,” and nir means “negation.” This does not indicate, however, that He has no qualities; He has transcendental qualities by which He appears and manifests His pastimes. The positive transcendental qualitative manifestation is unknown to the students of the Vedas as well as to the great stalwart demigods like Brahmā and Śiva. Actually, the transcendental qualities are manifested only to the devotees. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, simply by discharging devotional service one can understand the transcendental position of the Supreme Lord. Those who are in the mode of goodness can partially enter into the transcendental understanding, but it is advised in Bhagavad-gītā that one has to surpass this. The Vedic principles are based on the three qualities of the material modes. One has to transcend the three qualities, and then one can be situated in pure and simple spiritual life.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord is nirguṇa—beyond material qualities—so His ultimate extent cannot be fully known even by Brahmā, the cosmic creator.
In the aftermath of Daksha’s disrupted sacrifice, Brahmā addresses the Supreme Lord with humility, acknowledging Him as the source of dharma and as transcendental beyond the reach of even exalted beings.
Cultivate humility: even great knowledge has limits. Approach spiritual truth through devotion and reverence, recognizing the Divine as greater than intellectual control.