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
“Có những bậc đứng đầu hàng Bhāgavata, chí thành phụng sự Chúa, có thể hiểu được Ngài; nhưng nếu ngay cả họ còn không biết, thì kẻ khác sao có thể? Xin Ngài hằng che chở con, ô Đấng Tối Thượng vượt trên tất cả; quả thật con luôn kém cỏi, còn thua cả Viśvāmitra. Con chỉ như phần nhỏ so với mây mưa dồi dào; vì vậy con không đủ sức dâng lời tán thán xứng đáng.”
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.