Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 21

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

वचस्युपरतेऽप्राप्य य एको मनसा सह । अनामरूपश्चिन्मात्र: सोऽव्यान्न: सदसत्पर: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

vacasy uparate ’prāpya ya eko manasā saha anāma-rūpaś cin-mātraḥ so ’vyān naḥ sad-asat-paraḥ

Translation

Đấng Tối Thượng mà lời nói và tâm trí không thể chạm tới, vượt ngoài danh‑sắc, thuần là ý thức linh thiêng và siêu việt cả hữu‑vô; xin Ngài hoan hỷ che chở chúng con.

Synonyms

• vacasi: in speech/words
• vacasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uparate: when (speech) has ceased
• uparate: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa√ram (धातु) + uparata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त, क्तप्रत्यय), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agreeing with vacasi

• aprāpya: without attaining
• aprāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā√prāp (धातु) + a- (निषेध)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/त्वान्त), negative; indeclinable (अव्ययभाव)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ekaḥ: one, single
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying yaḥ

• manasā: by/with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; postposition meaning 'with' (सह-प्रयोग)

• anāma-rūpaḥ: without name and form
• anāma-rūpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-nāman (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'having no name and form'

• cit-mātraḥ: pure consciousness alone
• cit-mātraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cit (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/निर्धारण): 'mere consciousness'

• saḥ: he/that (one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• avyāt: may (he) protect
• avyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √av (धातु)
• Form: Optative/Benedi ctive (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• naḥ: us/for us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन); enclitic

• sat-asat-paraḥ: beyond being and non-being
• sat-asat-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + asat (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'transcending sat and asat'

Purport

The impersonal Brahman, which is the effulgence of the Lord, is described in this verse.

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God being beyond mind and speech?

This verse states that the Supreme is not attainable by speech and not graspable even by the mind; He is one, formless in the sense of being beyond material name and form, and is pure consciousness.

Why does Vṛtrāsura describe the Lord as beyond name and form in Canto 6?

In his prayer, Vṛtrāsura emphasizes the Lord’s transcendence over material designation—showing that the Supreme cannot be limited by mental concepts, words, or worldly categories of existence and non-existence.

How can I apply ‘beyond mind and speech’ teachings in modern life?

Practice humility in spiritual understanding: chant and pray with devotion, study scripture, and recognize that ultimate reality exceeds intellectual control—so cultivate surrender, steadiness, and reverence rather than mere argument.