Shloka 55
गुणा न चास्य ज्ञायन्ते न चास्य प्रथितं यशः स्तोत्रं किमाश्रयं त्व् अस्य कार्यम् अस्माभिर् उच्यताम्
guṇā na cāsya jñāyante na cāsya prathitaṃ yaśaḥ stotraṃ kimāśrayaṃ tv asya kāryam asmābhir ucyatām
His qualities cannot truly be known in full, nor can His glory be wholly proclaimed. On what foundation, then, should a hymn of praise rest? Tell us what we ought to do in this matter.
Maitreya (inquiring of Sage Parāśara within the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue)
Concept: Because the Supreme’s qualities and glory exceed full cognition and speech, praise must be offered with humility and a proper āśraya (ground) rather than presumptive description.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman
Application: Approach prayer as surrender: admit limits of speech, then praise through sincere intention, ethical living, and remembrance rather than argumentative certainty.
Vishishtadvaita: Affirms the Lord’s ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇas as real yet immeasurable—knowable in part through devotion while never exhaustible by finite mind/speech.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
It emphasizes Vishnu’s transcendence: the Supreme cannot be exhausted by language or intellect, so devotion approaches Him through reverence and surrender rather than complete definition.
In this dialogue context, the question sets up Parāśara’s teaching that praise is grounded in devotion, remembrance of divine acts, and acknowledgment of the Lord as the sustaining reality—even when His full nature remains immeasurable.
Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality whose glory surpasses complete articulation, reinforcing a Vaishnava view where the Lord is both beyond attributes and the ultimate support of all order and creation.