Shloka 1

The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute

Devanagari script

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मण्यनिर्देश्ये निर्गुणे गुणवृत्तय: । कथं चरन्ति श्रुतय: साक्षात् सदसत: परे ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-parīkṣid uvāca brahman brahmaṇy anirdeśye nirguṇe guṇa-vṛttayaḥ kathaṁ caranti śrutayaḥ sākṣāt sad-asataḥ pare

Translation

శ్రీపరీక్షితుడు పలికెను—ఓ బ్రాహ్మణా, వాక్కులకు అందని, బ్రహ్మణ్యుడైన, నిర్గుణుడైన, సత్-అసత్‌లకూ పరమైన ప్రత్యక్ష పరమసత్యాన్ని వేదాలు ఎలా వర్ణిస్తాయి? వేదాలు ప్రకృతి గుణవృత్తులనే చెప్పగలవు; కాని ఆయన గుణాతీతుడు.

Synonyms

• श्री-परीक्षित्: King Parīkṣit
• श्री-परीक्षित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीपरीक्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीः + परीक्षित्)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणि: in/with regard to Brahman
• ब्रह्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अनिर्देश्ये: indescribable
• अनिर्देश्ये: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनि-निर्देश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मणि)

• निर्गुणे: without qualities
• निर्गुणे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मणि)

• गुण-वृत्तयः: functions/operations of the guṇas
• गुण-वृत्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानां वृत्तयः)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• चरन्ति: move/operate
• चरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• श्रुतयः: the Vedas/Upaniṣadic revelations
• श्रुतयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सत्: of being/existence
• सत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासपूर्वपद (सदसतः)

• असतः: of non-being/nonexistence
• असतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासोत्तरपद (सदसतः)

• परे: in the transcendent (beyond)
• परे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मणि)

Purport

Before beginning his commentary on this chapter, Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī prays:

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

How can the Vedas describe the Absolute Truth if Brahman is indescribable (anirdeśya)?

This verse raises the issue that Vedic words function within the realm of the guṇas, yet Brahman is beyond them—setting up the Bhagavatam’s explanation that scripture points to the transcendent through indication, negation, and ultimately bhakti-centered realization.

Why does King Parīkṣit ask this question to Śukadeva Gosvāmī in Canto 10 Chapter 87?

Parīkṣit is seeking clarity on how revealed sound (śruti) can meaningfully speak about the Supreme who is beyond material categories; this introduces the chapter’s teachings where the personified Vedas offer prayers explaining the Lord’s transcendence.

What is a practical takeaway from “beyond sat and asat” for modern spiritual life?

Don’t reduce God to material concepts or mental labels; instead, approach the Absolute through disciplined hearing of scripture and devotional practice, which leads beyond mere intellectual categories to realized understanding.