Shloka 3
Hymns to Nārāyaṇa: Humility, Bhakti, Yoga, and the Guṇas
अथापरे भागवतप्रधाना यदा न जानीयुरथापरे कुतः / मां पाहि नित्यं परतोप्यधीश विश्वामित्रान्न्यून एवेति नित्यम् / अहं पर्जन्यार्द्विगुण एव नित्यमतो मम स्तवने नास्ति शक्तिः
athāpare bhāgavatapradhānā yadā na jānīyurathāpare kutaḥ / māṃ pāhi nityaṃ paratopyadhīśa viśvāmitrānnyūna eveti nityam / ahaṃ parjanyārdviguṇa eva nityamato mama stavane nāsti śaktiḥ
اگر بھگوان کے برگزیدہ بھکت بھی کبھی آپ کو نہ جان پائیں تو دوسرے کیسے جانیں گے؟ اے پراتپر ادھیشور، میری ہمیشہ حفاظت فرمائیے؛ میں تو وشوامتر سے بھی ہمیشہ کمتر ہوں۔ میں بارش کے بادل کی فراوانی کے سامنے نہایت قلیل حصہ ہوں؛ اس لیے آپ کی شایانِ شان ستائش کی طاقت مجھ میں نہیں۔
Garuda (Vinata-putra), speaking to Lord Vishnu (Bhagavan)
Concept: Even foremost bhāgavatas may or may not fully comprehend the Lord; therefore the aspirant seeks divine protection and offers praise with humility, acknowledging personal limitation.
Vedantic Theme: Acintya/atarkya nature of Bhagavān; gradations of adhikāra (spiritual capacity); dependence on grace (anugraha) over self-powered attainment.
Application: Avoid spiritual pride; seek steadiness in devotion, prayer for protection, and consistent remembrance even when one feels unqualified.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti sections emphasizing anugraha (grace) and the devotee’s humility (general thematic parallel)
FAQs
This verse models bhakti through humility: even the speaker admits inability to fully know or praise the Supreme, turning instead to continual refuge and protection in Bhagavān.
Indirectly, it emphasizes surrender to the Supreme Lord as the foundation for spiritual progress; understanding and liberation are not merely intellectual but depend on grace and devotion.
Maintain regular prayer with humility—acknowledge limits, avoid spiritual pride, and cultivate steady devotion and ethical living as an offering to the Divine.