FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.26.18

बहूनि सन्ति नामानि रूपाणि च सुतस्य ते । गुणकर्मानुरूपाणि तान्यहं वेद नो जना: ॥ १८ ॥
bahūni santi nāmāni
[bahooni santi naamaani]
rūpāṇi ca sutasya te
[roopaani cha sutasya te]
guṇa-karmānurūpāṇi
[guna-karmaanuroopaani]
tāny ahaṁ veda no janāḥ
[taany aham veda no janaah]
Word-for-word
bahūni — various santi — there are nāmāni — names rūpāṇi — forms ca — also sutasya — of the son te — your guṇa - karma - anurūpāṇi — according to His attributes and activities tāni — them aham — I veda — know na u janāḥ — not ordinary persons .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bahūni santi nāmāni
bahūni
various
santi
there are
nāmāni
names
rūpāṇi ca sutasya te
rūpāṇi
forms
ca
also
sutasya
of the son
te
your
guṇa-karmānurūpāṇi
guṇa - karma - anurūpāṇi
according to His attributes and activities
tāny ahaṁ veda no janāḥ
tāni
them
aham
I
veda
know
na u janāḥ
not ordinary persons .
Important Words
  • nāmāni — names
    Plural of nāman. Kṛṣṇa's names are countless — sahasra-nāma is only a glimpse. Gauḻīyas teach that nāma is non-different from nāmī (Padma Purāṇa); each name carries the full Person. To know His names is partial vision; to chant them is full union.
  • rūpāṇi — forms
    Plural of rūpa. Bhagavān has unlimited forms — Nārāyaṇa, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, and Kṛṣṇa (svayaṁ-rūpa). Garga hints at the avatāra-mālā without unfurling it; Nanda needs the hint, not the catalog.
  • guṇa-karma-anurūpāṇi — according to His attributes and activities
    Guṇa (quality) + karma (act) + anurūpa (in accordance). Each name and form expresses a particular pastime — names and līlās are mutually generative, never arbitrary.
  • veda — know
    Perfect of √vid — 'I have come to know.' Garga modestly claims jñāna of Kṛṣṇa's nāma-rūpa, distinguishing himself from janāḥ (ordinary people). Gauḻīya paramparā depends on such recognition: tattva-darśin teachers.
  • na u janāḥ — not ordinary persons
    Na (not) + u (emphatic) + janāḥ (people). Garga is not boasting; he is locating the gopas' bewilderment inside a wider human pattern. Only Vaiṣṇavas in paramparā know Kṛṣṇa's nāma-rūpa-līlā fully.
For this son of yours there are many forms and names according to His transcendental qualities and activities. These are known to me, but people in general do not understand them.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
For this son of yours there are many forms and names according to His transcendental qualities and activities. These are known to me, but people in general do not understand them.
Related values & verses
Related values
Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Svadhyaya (Self-study & Scripture Study)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)
Related verses
BG 4.8 BG 15.7 BG 3.11 BG 15.2 BG 2.21 BG 16.1 BG 3.19 BG 3.30 BG 2.66 BG 12.5 BG 6.4 BG 13.8 BG 7.8 BG 3.21
Concepts
Karma
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
'Many forms and names according to His qualities and activities — known to me but not to common people.' Initiate knowledge of His variety is a gift not all receive — and a responsibility to share when invited.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose deeper knowledge of His forms am I underusing as resource?
  • Where am I content with only the public names when a teacher could share more?
Analogy

A father might know his son's pet names — the ones used by the grandmother, the brother, the teacher — while strangers know only the legal name. Garga is telling Nanda: this child has more names than the village will ever sing, and I know them; do not be surprised when the names start to surface.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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