FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.20

एतावतालं ननु सूचितेन गुणैरसाम्यानतिशायनस्य । हित्वेतरान् प्रार्थयतो विभूति- र्यस्याङ्‌घ्रिरेणुं जुषतेऽनभीप्सो: ॥ २० ॥
etāvatālaṁ nanu sūcitena
[etaavataalam nanu soochitena]
guṇair asāmyānatiśāyanasya
[gunair asaamyaanatishaayanasya]
hitvetarān prārthayato vibhūtir
[hitvetaraan praarthayato vibhootir]
yasyāṅghri-reṇuṁ juṣate ’nabhīpsoḥ
[yasyaanghri-renum jushate ’nabheepsoh]
etāvatā — so far alam — unnecessary nanu — if at all sūcitena — by description guṇaiḥ — by attributes asāmya — immeasurable anati-śāyanasya — of one who is unexcelled hitvā — leaving aside itarān — others prārthayataḥ — of those who ask for vibhūtiḥ — favor of the goddess of fortune yasya — one whose aṅghri — feet reṇum — dust juṣate — serves anabhīpsoḥ — of one who is unwilling.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etāvatālaṁ nanu sūcitena
etāvatā
so far
alam
unnecessary
nanu
if at all
sūcitena
by description
guṇair asāmyānatiśāyanasya
guṇaiḥ
by attributes
asāmya
immeasurable
anati-śāyanasya
of one who is unexcelled
hitvetarān prārthayato vibhūtir
hitvā
leaving aside
itarān
others
prārthayataḥ
of those who ask for
vibhūtiḥ
favor of the goddess of fortune
yasyāṅghri-reṇuṁ juṣate ’nabhīpsoḥ
yasya
one whose
aṅghri
feet
reṇum
dust
juṣate
serves
anabhīpsoḥ
of one who is unwilling.
It is now ascertained that He [the Personality of Godhead] is unlimited and there is none equal to Him. Consequently no one can speak of Him adequately. Great demigods cannot obtain the favor of the goddess of fortune even by prayers, but this very goddess renders service unto the Lord, although He is unwilling to have such service.

The Personality of Godhead, or the Parameśvara Parabrahman, according to the śrutis, has nothing to do. He has no equal. Nor does anyone excel Him. He has unlimited potencies, and His every action is carried out systematically in His natural and perfect ways. Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in Himself, and He has nothing to accept from anyone else, including the great demigods like Brahmā. Others ask for the favor of the goddess of fortune, and despite such prayers she declines to award such favors. But still she renders service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He has nothing to accept from her. The Personality of Godhead in His Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu feature begets Brahmā, the first created person in the material world, from His navel lotus stem and not in the womb of the goddess of fortune, who is eternally engaged in His service. These are some of the instances of His complete independence and perfection. That He has nothing to do does not mean that He is impersonal. He is transcendentally so full of inconceivable potencies that simply by His willing, everything is done without physical or personal endeavor. He is called, therefore, Yogeśvara, or the Lord of all mystic powers.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Enough with delineating the Lord, who has no equal or superior in qualities! Ignoring Brahmā and others who pray to her, even Lakṣmī, with a desire for receiving all those qualities in full, serves the dust of the feet of this Lord who has no material desire.
Commentary

Who is able to speak about those qualities? Enough of so many attempts to describe the Lord who is unequal and, of course, unsurpassed in his qualities. Though he is without desire, Lakṣmī (vibhutīḥ) serves the dust of his feet because she desires all those qualities in full, having given up Brahmā and others who pray to her.

He is unlimited, and none is equal to Him. No one can speak of Him adequately. Even Brahmā cannot. Speech about Him is always partial; speak anyway, but with humility.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I treating my words about the Lord as more than partial?
  • What humility could deepen my speech and silence about Him?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 18