Shloka 13

नग्न-परिभाषा तथा देव-स्तोत्रपूर्वक मायामोह-उत्पत्ति

Defining ‘Nagna’ and the Devas’ Hymn Leading to Māyāmoha

Devanagari script

तथाप्य् अरातिविध्वंसध्वस्तवीर्या भवार्थिनः त्वां स्तोष्यामस् तवोक्तीनां याथार्थ्यं नैव गोचरे

Transliteration

tathāpy arātividhvaṃsadhvastavīryā bhavārthinaḥ tvāṃ stoṣyāmas tavoktīnāṃ yāthārthyaṃ naiva gocare

Translation

Yet even so—though our strength has been shattered by the crushing force of hostile powers—we, who seek release from worldly becoming, will praise You; for the true reality of what is spoken of You does not fully lie within the reach of speech.

Word by Word

• तथापि: nevertheless, even so
• तथापि: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुनयार्थक-निपात (concessive particle: “even so/however”)

• अराति-विध्वंस-ध्वस्त-वीर्याः: whose prowess is destroyed by the ruin of enemies
• अराति-विध्वंस-ध्वस्त-वीर्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अराति (प्रातिपदिक) + विध्वंस (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वस्त (कृदन्त; ध्वंस्/ध्वस् धातु) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अरातीनां विध्वंसः → तेन ध्वस्तं वीर्यं यस्य)

• भव-अर्थिनः: seekers of worldly existence (or becoming)
• भव-अर्थिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), पुल्लिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भवम् अर्थयन्ति)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), पुल्लिङ्ग/सर्वनाम; कर्म

• स्तोष्यामः: we shall praise
• स्तोष्यामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); सम्बन्ध

• उक्तीनाम्: of (your) statements
• उक्तीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• याथार्थ्यम्: truth, exactness
• याथार्थ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याथार्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; भाववाचक

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation marker/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• गोचरे: within the range (of comprehension)
• गोचरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), पुल्लिङ्ग; अधिकरण

Speaker

Devotees/supplicants addressing Lord Vishnu (as presented by Sage Parāśara in narration to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of the Supreme and the efficacy of praise when the Lord transcends speech

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even when overpowered, the seeker praises the Lord, acknowledging that His true nature exceeds the reach of speech.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In adversity, maintain nāma-stuti and surrender, accepting that ultimate reality is not fully capturable by concepts.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is knowable and praiseworthy through devotion even though His svarūpa is ananta and cannot be exhausted by words.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the verse saying Vishnu’s reality is beyond speech?

It teaches that even authoritative descriptions cannot fully capture Vishnu’s true nature; devotion persists despite the mind and language failing to encompass Him.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the devotee’s approach when power and confidence are broken?

Through the narrative voice, the text presents praise and surrender as the correct response: even in weakness caused by opposing forces, one turns to Vishnu as the transcendent refuge.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as the Supreme Reality whose essence exceeds conceptual and verbal limits, aligning with Vaishnava philosophical emphasis on His sovereignty and transcendence.