Shloka 38
Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman
with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti
तथापि मे गुणतो नास्त्यनन्तं ततो धर्मा गुणतोनन्ततश्च / संति श्रुतावविरुद्धाश्च देवे चिन्त्या ह्यचिन्त्या बहुधा ते ह्यनन्ताः
tathāpi me guṇato nāstyanantaṃ tato dharmā guṇatonantataśca / saṃti śrutāvaviruddhāśca deve cintyā hyacintyā bahudhā te hyanantāḥ
ถึงกระนั้น ในด้านคุณของข้าพเจ้าไม่มีที่สุด; เพราะฉะนั้นหลักธรรมะทั้งหลายก็เป็นอนันต์ตามคุณนั้น ในพระศรุติมีถ้อยคำเกี่ยวกับพระผู้เป็นเจ้ามากมายที่ไม่ขัดกัน—บางอย่างพึงใคร่ครวญ บางอย่างเกินกว่าความคิด—โดยนานาประการล้วนเป็นอนันต์
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: The Divine’s qualities are endless; therefore dharma, grounded in those qualities, is also endlessly manifold. Śruti contains many non-contradictory statements about God—some accessible to thought, others acintya—together indicating true infinitude.
Vedantic Theme: Acintya-bhedābheda style harmonization (without forcing a single limited model): śruti-samanvaya; ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇa; dharma as expression of divine nature rather than mere rulebook.
Application: Approach dharma with humility and context-sensitivity; reconcile diverse scriptural teachings by seeing them as facets of the Infinite; balance rational inquiry (cintya) with reverent acceptance of mystery (acintya).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.34-37 (supremacy and infinity of Viṣṇu; limitation of others)
FAQs
This verse states that because the Divine is limitless in qualities, dharma cannot be reduced to a single fixed formula; righteous principles are many and context-sensitive, yet rooted in the same infinite Divine nature.
By emphasizing that dharma has many valid scriptural expressions, it implies the soul’s progress depends on aligning with dharma according to one’s capacity and context, guided by scripture—some aspects understood by reason and some accepted as transcendent.
Practice dharma with humility: follow reliable scripture and teachers, avoid rigid one-size-fits-all judgments, and accept that some spiritual truths are lived through devotion and discipline even when they exceed intellectual grasp.