Shloka 10

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

तत्कारणं कारणानां निर्द्देष्टुं नैव शक्यते । वेदानिर्वचनीयं यत्तद्वक्तुं नैव शक्यते ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tatkāraṇaṃ kāraṇānāṃ nirddeṣṭuṃ naiva śakyate | vedānirvacanīyaṃ yattadvaktuṃ naiva śakyate || 10 ||

Translation

ເຫດສູງສຸດແຫ່ງເຫດທັງປວງ ບໍ່ອາດຊີ້ບອກໃຫ້ແນ່ຊັດໄດ້; ເພາະແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ແມ່ນວິທີກ່າວບໍ່ໄດ້ແມ່ນແຕ່ໃນເວດາ ຈຶ່ງບໍ່ອາດກ່າວໄດ້ແທ້ໆ।

Word by Word

• तत्-कारणम्: that cause
• तत्-कारणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tasya kāraṇam = its cause)

• कारणानाम्: of causes
• कारणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निर्देष्टुम्: to indicate/define
• निर्देष्टुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: सम्बन्ध (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: क्रिया (आख्यात/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is possible')

• वेद-अनिर्वचनीयम्: inexpressible (even) by the Vedas
• वेद-अनिर्वचनीयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिर्वचनीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (vedaiḥ anirvacanīyam = inexpressible even by the Vedas)

• यत्: which
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular), सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular), निर्देशवाचक (correlative pronoun)

• वक्तुम्: to speak
• वक्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: सम्बन्ध (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: क्रिया (आख्यात/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Veda

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes that the Supreme Reality—the root cause behind every cause—is ultimately beyond precise definition and beyond complete verbal description, even within Vedic language.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By declaring the Supreme as inexpressible, the verse supports Bhakti as a direct, heart-centered approach—reverence, surrender, and remembrance—when intellectual description and debate reach their limit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly sets a boundary for Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and Nirukta (etymology): linguistic tools can analyze sacred words, but they cannot fully capture the transcendent 'cause of causes' described as veda-anirvacanīya.