Shloka 36

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

अनिर्देश्यं तु यद्वस्तु तन्निर्देष्टुं न च क्षमम् । उपलक्षणमेतद्धि यन्निदेशनमैश्वरम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

anirdeśyaṃ tu yadvastu tannirdeṣṭuṃ na ca kṣamam | upalakṣaṇametaddhi yannideśanamaiśvaram || 36 ||

Translation

അനിർദ്ദേശ്യമായ ആ സത്യത്തെ കൃത്യമായി നിർവ്വചിക്കാൻ കഴിയില്ല; അതിനെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ‘വിവരണം’ വെറും സൂചനാമാത്രം—ഭഗവാൻ നൽകിയ അധികാരപൂർവ്വമായ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടൽ മാത്രം।

Word by Word

• अनिर्देश्यम्: indescribable / not expressible
• अनिर्देश्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + निर्देश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘not to be indicated/undefinable’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (but/indeed)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• वस्तु: thing/reality
• वस्तु: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विषय)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• निर्देष्टुम्: to indicate/define
• निर्देष्टुम्: Purpose (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to indicate/define’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• क्षमम्: possible/competent
• क्षमम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय)

• उपलक्षणम्: a mark/indication (indirect sign)
• उपलक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Reason marker (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/for)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• निदेशनम्: instruction/indication
• निदेशनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• ऐश्वरम्: divine / pertaining to the Lord
• ऐश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘of the Lord/divine’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Reality is beyond verbal definition; scriptural and saintly statements function as pointers (upalakṣaṇa) rather than literal descriptions, guiding the seeker toward direct realization.

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

By admitting the limits of speech, it encourages humility and reliance on Īśvara’s guidance—supporting bhakti as loving surrender to the Lord whose nature is ultimately beyond conceptual grasp.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly highlights Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta limits: grammar and etymology can clarify words, but they cannot fully capture the indescribable Supreme—so their role becomes indicative rather than exhaustive.