Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.38
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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jānantaḥ eva jānantu
—
let those who claim to know go on knowing
Phrase: jānantaḥ (knowing ones) + eva (indeed) + jānantu (let them know). Brahmā's elegant resignation. The verb is doubled — present participle + imperative — registering both 'they claim' and 'fine, let them.' A Vaiṣṇava polite dismissal.
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bahu-uktyā
—
by much speech
Compound: bahu (much) + ukti (saying). Verbal abundance. Brahmā explicitly renounces it. The Gauḍīya silence-of-the-knower — eka eva śabdaḥ kṛṣṇa-prema, one word is enough.
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manasaḥ vapuṣaḥ vācaḥ
—
of mind, body and words
Phrase: manas (mind) + vapus (body) + vāc (speech). Genitive trio — the three faculties that conventionally measure things. Brahmā confesses Kṛṣṇa's vaibhava exceeds all three. The same trio as verse 3's tanu-vāk-manaḥ, now in the failure register.
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vaibhavam
—
opulence, glory
From vibhū — pervasive power. Kṛṣṇa's full glory. Distinct from mahimā (the effulgence-side glory of verse 6); vaibhava is the personal opulence. Six vaibhavas, ṣaḍ-vaibhava, define Bhagavān (BG 7.7).
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go-caraḥ
—
within range (of perception)
Compound: go (cow/sense) + cara (moving). 'Within sense-pasture' — within sensory reach. The pun is fierce: go means cow AND sense; Kṛṣṇa is within the reach of Vraja's cows but beyond the reach of Brahmā's senses.
This translation is quoted from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Twenty-one, text 27.
"O Brahma, what you have said is absolutely true. There is no one else in the universe who can explain about my form, my Vraja devotees, my pastimes and my bhakti in front of me." Fearing that the Lord would request him to speak further, Brahma then speaks with shame, fear, and repentance. "I am of that category, I am te greatest fool." "O brahma, then why have you spoken till now?" "Speaking too much in your presence will show my foolishness." "O Brahma, please speak the truth." "My mind cannot grasp your powers by meditation. My eyes cannot grasp your form. My words cannot describe you. As I said previously, who can describe your heaps of good qualities (gunatmanas te’pi gunan vimatum). Another meaning is: I cannot grasp the powers of your mind with my senses. I cannot understand what is in your mind. (sasksat tavaiva kim uta atmasukhanubhuta 10.14.2) I cannot understand anything about your body or any of your words which are the Vedas. Thus, when you are standing before me silently, I cannot speak even a word. Thus I say, in front of you, I am really insignificant."
In a general way in verse 2, Brahmā declared that inconceivability of Kṛṣṇa’s greatness. Then in verse 9 he showed that Kṛṣṇa’s svarūpa-śakti, māyā-śakti and his svarūpa were inconceivable. In verse 31 he showed that the prema of the people of Vraja was inconceivable and in verse 35 and verse 37 he showed that Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and pastimes were inconceivable. Now he abandons further definitions and begins his conclusion by indicating his desired goal. O Lord with unlimited, variegated powers (prabho)! Even your glories stated in the Vedas cannot be understood by me. Even though I see this form before me, it cannot be perceived by the body—such as the material eye (organ of the body) or described by material words. Therefore I began simply by praying. That is what I will do now.
Starting in SB 10.14.3, Brahmā has explained that jñana is insignificant and bhakti is great. He now summarizes this. Let those who think they know (janataḥ) the glory of your bhakti (vaibhavam) think they are very learned. Practicing jñāna, let them perfect it. This is said with irony. What more can be said about the insignificance of jñāna and the greatness of bhakti? O lord with various unlimited powers (prabho)! Your greatness cannot approached by writing ability with the body, by descriptions using words or by thinking with the mind since your greatness is continuous and inconceivable. All else is approachable. Or first Brahmā described the body of the Lord by praises. Then he raised various doubts. Now he summarizes with conviction by a description of the greatness of bhakti. O Lord who reveals excellently great beauty (prabho)! The greatness of your body is beyond my understanding. Or the greatness of your mind, words and body are beyond my understanding. Like you, your mind is deeper than a million oceans. Your single body is like the unlimitedly deep Vedas, being limited and unlimited simultaneously. I cannot understand the meaning of your words, measured and abundant, uttered to your friends. Or summarizing the greatness of Vraja by praising the Lord in front of him, he mocks the fools who think they know. O lord of Gokula (prabho)! The glory of the people of Vraja is beyond my and even your body, mind and words. Those who think they know are fools, worthy of mockery.
- RRDD SB 10-14-38-39 - Realized Knowledge - 2023-03-04
- Padaseva Pr SB 10-14-38 Oriya
- Bhanu Sw SB 10-14-38 - ISKCON Chennai
- GRS SB 10-14-38 - Be Conscious of both Krishna%E2%80%99s Opulence and Sweetness - 2012-02-25 Dallas
- PrahladAnS SB 10-14-38-39 - We have to do our duty - 2024-04-25 ISKCON Slovenia
- PrahladAnS SB 10-14-38-39 Slovenian Translation - Opraviti moramo svojo dol%C5%BEnost - 2024-04-25 ISKCON Slovenia
- Romapada Sw SB 10-14-38 - Prayers of Lord Brahma - Palatine
- Where am I claiming a certainty about Kṛṣṇa that closes off further wonder?
- What would change in my study if I let Him remain genuinely beyond me?
A child of the king claims to know the king fully. Brahmā says: let them. As for me, I confess that the smallest particle of His glory exceeds my mind, words, body — the three instruments by which any 'knowing' could occur. Real knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is the knowledge of not-knowing Him.
My note
Source: vedabase.io