Shloka 15
Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa
On the Causes/Means of Knowledge
ब्रह्मोवाच / रमेश लोकेश जगन्निवास तव स्वरूपं न विजानाति देवी / तव प्रसादात्सुविजानाति देवी गुणान्वेदोक्तान्सर्वदा वीन्द्र सर्वान्
brahmovāca / rameśa lokeśa jagannivāsa tava svarūpaṃ na vijānāti devī / tava prasādātsuvijānāti devī guṇānvedoktānsarvadā vīndra sarvān
Brahmā said: O Rameśa, Lord of Lakṣmī; O Lokeśa, refuge of the universe—the Goddess does not, by herself, fully comprehend Your essential form. Yet by Your grace she clearly knows at all times all the Veda-proclaimed qualities of Yours, O Vīndra.
Brahma
Concept: The Lord’s svarūpa is not fully grasped by any being independently; true knowing arises by His prasāda, even regarding Veda-proclaimed attributes.
Vedantic Theme: Anirvacanīya/atarkya īśvara-mahimā; knowledge as grace-assisted (anugraha-sādhya); distinction between svarūpa-jñāna and guṇa-jñāna.
Application: Pair study (śāstra) with humility and prayer; treat insight as a gift to be prepared for through purity and devotion, not as mere intellectual conquest.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: divine assembly/dialogue
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Brahmā–Nārāyaṇa stuti dialogues in devotional portions
FAQs
The verse teaches that the Lord’s true nature is not grasped merely by effort; clear knowledge arises through His prasāda, which enables even Devī to know His Veda-described attributes.
It distinguishes the Lord’s essential form (svarūpa), which is difficult to fully comprehend, from His guṇas (attributes) that are described in the Vedas and can be known clearly through grace.
Cultivate humility and devotion: study scripture for the Lord’s attributes, and pair it with prayer and ethical living, recognizing that deeper realization is supported by grace.