Shloka 37

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

यदा नन्त्यं किमु वक्तव्यमत्र गुणानन्त्यं नास्ति ब्रह्मादिकेषु / यद्यप्यहं देशतः कालतश्च समस्तदा वासुदेवेन सार्धम्

Transliteration

yadā nantyaṃ kimu vaktavyamatra guṇānantyaṃ nāsti brahmādikeṣu / yadyapyahaṃ deśataḥ kālataśca samastadā vāsudevena sārdham

Translation

เมื่อไม่มีที่สุดแล้ว ที่นี่จะกล่าวสิ่งใดได้เล่า? แม้พรหมาและเทพอื่น ๆ ก็ไม่มีคุณอันอนันต์ และแม้ข้าพเจ้าจะดูแยกด้วยสถานที่และกาลเวลา กระนั้นข้าพเจ้าก็ยังอยู่ร่วมกับวาสุเทวะเสมอ

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana/अधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb ‘when’)

• अनन्त्यम्: infinitude
• अनन्त्यम्: Karma/कर्म (topic/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (1st/2nd, Singular)

• किमु: what then / how much more
• किमु: Sambandha/सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (अव्यय-प्रयोग) + उ (निपात)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक/आश्चर्यार्थक निपात (rhetorical ‘what then?’)

• वक्तव्यम्: is to be said
• वक्तव्यम्: Karya/कार्य (to-be-done predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana/अधिकरण (location/topic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• गुण-अनन्त्यम्: infinitude of qualities
• गुण-अनन्त्यम्: Karta/कर्ता (subject of अस्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + अनन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (1st/2nd, Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriya/क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Present, 3rd, Singular)

• ब्रह्म-आदिकेषु: among Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदिकेषु: Adhikarana/अधिकरण (locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि + (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन (7th/सप्तमी, Plural); ब्रह्मादि = ‘Brahmā and others’

• यद्यपि: although
• यद्यपि: Sambandha/सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समुच्चय (concessive ‘although’)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta/कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचन (1st, Singular)

• देशतः: as to place
• देशतः: Adhikarana/अधिकरण (domain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘in respect of place’

• कालतः: as to time
• कालतः: Adhikarana/अधिकरण (domain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘as to time’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• समस्तदा: altogether/at all times
• समस्तदा: Adhikarana/अधिकरण (time/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समस्त + दा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; दा/दा(दा)= ‘at that time’ अव्ययप्रयोग; अर्थः ‘altogether/always then’

• वासुदेवेन: with Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवेन: Sahakaraka/सह (instrumental of accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (3rd/तृतीया, Singular)

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sambandha/सम्बन्ध (accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable ‘together with’)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), expressing devotion and non-separation from Vāsudeva

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even exalted beings like Brahmā lack infinite qualities; true anantatva belongs to the Supreme. The devotee’s (or divine speaker’s) union/companionship with Vāsudeva persists regardless of spatial or temporal distance.

Vedantic Theme: Apr̥thak-siddhi / inseparability of the Supreme from His own presence and from the devotee’s refuge; also limitation of jīva/deva by deśa-kāla contrasted with the Lord’s transcendence.

Application: Practice constant remembrance (smaraṇa) of Vāsudeva: treat separation as only external; cultivate inner companionship through nāma-japa and meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.34-36 (supremacy and infinity); Garuda Purana 3.2.38 (scriptural statements: thinkable/unthinkable infinity)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Vāsudeva’s qualities in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the Lord’s greatness is effectively inexhaustible, so devotion and remembrance matter more than attempting an exhaustive description.

How does this verse explain the devotee’s relationship with the Divine?

It presents a bhakti-based view: even if external circumstances create distance in time or place, inner union with Vāsudeva remains unbroken through steadfast devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily remembrance—japa, prayer, or ethical living in Viṣṇu’s spirit—so your connection to the Divine is steady regardless of changing situations.