Shloka 52

अक्रूर-सत्कारः, मथुरायात्रा-विरहः, यमुनातटे दिव्यदर्शनम्, चतुर्व्यूह-नमस्कारः

Devanagari script

अनाख्येयस्वरूपात्मन्न् अनाख्येयप्रयोजन अनाख्येयाभिधानं त्वां नतो ऽस्मि परमेश्वर

Transliteration

anākhyeyasvarūpātmann anākhyeyaprayojana anākhyeyābhidhānaṃ tvāṃ nato 'smi parameśvara

Translation

O Supreme Lord, your very nature is beyond all telling; your purpose is beyond all telling; even your designation is beyond all telling. To you, the Ineffable, I bow in reverence.

Word by Word

• अनाख्येयस्वरूपात्मन्: O one whose very nature is indescribable
• अनाख्येयस्वरूपात्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाख्येय (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—अनाख्येयस्वरूपः (कर्मधारय: अनाख्येयं स्वरूपम्) + आत्मन् (तत्पुरुष: तस्य आत्मा/स्वरूपात्मा)

• अनाख्येयप्रयोजन: O one whose purpose is indescribable
• अनाख्येयप्रयोजन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाख्येय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोजन), सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—अनाख्येयं प्रयोजनं यस्य/अनाख्येयं प्रयोजनम् (कर्मधारय)

• अनाख्येयाभिधानम्: (you) of indescribable designation/name
• अनाख्येयाभिधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाख्येय (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—अनाख्येयम् अभिधानम् (कर्मधारय)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नतः: bowed/prostrated
• नतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘नतः’ (नमितः/नतवान्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि—‘नतः’ = ‘प्रणतः’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Copula/अस्ति-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—परमः ईश्वरः (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; verse framed as a reverential address to the Supreme Lord, Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord is ineffable in nature, purpose, and even in name; the proper response is humble bowing and surrender beyond speech.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Adopt apophatic reverence in prayer—let devotion include silence, recognizing the limits of concepts while deepening surrender.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports prapatti/bhakti: the Lord’s transcendence exceeds language, yet remains approachable through surrender (śaraṇāgati) rather than mere conceptualization.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu 'anākhyeya' (indescribable) in the Vishnu Purana?

It asserts that Vishnu’s true essence cannot be fully captured by language, names, or conceptual definitions—highlighting transcendence while still allowing devotional approach through reverent address.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme beyond words in this context?

By stacking three negations—indescribable nature, purpose, and even name—Parāśara frames the Lord as the ultimate reality prior to all verbal categories, approached through humility and devotion rather than mere description.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as Parameśvara—the supreme sovereign reality—whose transcendence grounds the cosmos, aligning with Vaishnava readings where the highest truth is personal yet beyond limiting speech.