Shloka 52

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

अणिमाद्यैर्महिमभिरजाद्याभिर्विभूतिभि: । चतुर्विंशतिभिस्तत्त्वै: परीता महदादिभि: ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

aṇimādyair mahimabhir ajādyābhir vibhūtibhiḥ catur-viṁśatibhis tattvaiḥ parītā mahad-ādibhiḥ

Translation

ఆ విష్ణుమూర్తులన్నీ అణిమా-సిద్ధి మొదలైన ఐశ్వర్యాలతో, అజా మొదలైన యోగశక్తులతో, అలాగే మహత్తత్త్వం మొదలైన భౌతిక సృష్టి యొక్క ఇరవై నాలుగు తత్త్వాలతో చుట్టుముట్టబడి ఉన్నవి।

Synonyms

• अणिमा-आद्यैः: with (powers) beginning with aṇimā
• अणिमा-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अणिमा-आदयः)

• महिमभिः: with (powers like) mahimā
• महिमभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• अजा-आद्याभिः: with (energies) beginning with Ajā
• अजा-आद्याभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अजा-आद्याः)

• विभूतिभिः: with opulences/potencies
• विभूतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• चतुर्-विṁशतिभिः: with twenty-four
• चतुर्-विṁशतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चतुर्विंशतिः = 24) विशेषणम् (तत्त्वैः)

• तत्त्वैः: with principles (tattvas)
• तत्त्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• परीता: surrounded
• परीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि√इ (धातु) + क्त → परीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘surrounded, encompassed’

• महत्-आदिभिः: with (categories) beginning with Mahat
• महत्-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महदादयः)

Purport

In this verse the word mahimabhiḥ means aiśvarya, or opulence. The Supreme Personality of Godhead can do whatever He likes. That is His aiśvarya. No one can command Him, but He can command everyone. Sad-aiśvarya-pūrṇam. The Lord is full in six opulences. The yoga-siddhis, the perfections of yoga, such as the ability to become smaller than the smallest ( aṇimā-siddhi ) or bigger than the biggest ( mahimā-siddhi ), are present in Lord Viṣṇu. Sad-aiśvaryaiḥ pūrṇo ya iha bhagavān (Cc. Ādi 1.3). The word ajā means māyā, or mystic power. Everything mysterious is in full existence in Viṣṇu.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the twenty-four tattvas (material principles)?

This verse states that the Lord is encompassed by (and thus fully knows, controls, and pervades) the twenty-four material principles beginning with mahat-tattva—showing He is the foundation beyond them, not limited by them.

Why are mystic siddhis like aṇimā mentioned in Krishna Leela (Canto 10)?

They are cited to indicate that even the greatest yogic perfections are merely powers within the Lord’s opulence; Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy in Vṛndāvana pastimes includes complete mastery over all mystic and cosmic energies.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Rather than chasing power, control, or “spiritual abilities,” a devotee focuses on bhakti—seeing all abilities and material systems as subordinate to the Supreme, and cultivating humility and surrender.