Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.64.29
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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sarva - bhāvāya
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to the source of all beings
Sarva (all) + bhāva (becoming, being). Kṛṣṇa as the origin (cf. BG 10.8 — ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ). Nṛga's farewell-stuti opens at the doctrinal foundation: Bhagavān is not one being among many but their common source.
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brahmaṇe
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to the Supreme Absolute Truth
Dative of brahman. Gauḍīya reading: Kṛṣṇa Himself is parabrahman; brahman in the impersonal sense is His effulgence. Nṛga names both at once — the dative is personal, the term reaches the impersonalist's range.
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ananta - śaktaye
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possessor of unlimited potencies
Ananta (limitless) + śakti (power). Doctrinal: Bhagavān is svarūpa with infinite śaktis (parā, jīva, māyā). Gauḍīyas root acintya-bhedābheda in exactly this — the Lord is one with His śaktis and yet distinct from them.
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vāsudevāya
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to the son of Vasudeva
Patronymic. The Bhāgavata pairs the cosmic names (sarva-bhāva, brahman, ananta-śakti) with this intimate one — He who is all that, is also the boy of Vasudeva. The personalist accent is the chapter's signature.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments that King Nṛga here offers his obeisances to Brahman — that is, the Absolute Truth — who is unchanged in spite of performing activities. Since ancient times, Western philosophers have puzzled over the question of how God can be unchanging and yet perform activities. Śrīdhara Svāmī states that this doubt is answered here by the term ananta-śaktaye, which describes the Lord as “the possessor of unlimited potency.” Thus through the Lord’s infinite potencies He can perform innumerable activities without changing His essential nature. The King further offers his obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the possessor of the form of eternal bliss and the supreme goal of life. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is analyzed in a verse from the Mahābhārata ( Udyoga-parva 71.4), which is quoted in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 9.30) : kṛṣir bhū-vācakaḥ śabdo ṇaś ca nirvṛti-vācakaḥ tayor aikyaṁ paraṁ brahma kṛṣṇa ity abhidhīyate “The word kṛṣ is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and na means ‘spiritual pleasure.’ When the verb kṛṣ is added to na, it becomes kṛṣṇa, which indicates the Absolute Truth.” King Nṛga offers the above prayers as he is about to leave the personal association of the Supreme Lord.
"I have a relation as servant to you, but you are the object of all types of love. I offer respects to you, within whom exist all bhavas or loving relationships." He first mentions the lord as the object of santa bhava, the form of brahman (brahmane). He is the object of dasya bhava as the possessor of unlimited powers (ananta saktaye), the form of grandeur. He is the object of sakhya bhava as Krsna, who gives constant bliss, which is also the name of Arjuna, who had similar name, form and qualities as Krsna, being treated equally by him. Smrti says "Krs means earth or existence, and na bliss." He is the object of vatsalya bhava as Vasudeva, son of Vasudeva. He is the object of madhurya bhava as the husband of those who have deep devotion (yoganam pataye) such as Rukmini.
“In that case, stay here.” I offer respects to you. You are the source of everything, but without change, since you have unlimited powers of māyā. You are the shelter of all beings, the material source of everything. You have an eternal form of bliss (kṛṣṇāya). You give the results for all actions (yogānām pataye). Or, I can go only by being inspired by you. What can I do by my own powers? Showing how Kṛṣṇa is the inspirer of all beings, he describes his powers. You cause everyone’s actions since you are spread internally and external (brahmane). “But the jīvas move by their own will. That is clearly seen.” You are the source of their powers (ananta-śaktaye) since you preside over their citta (vāsudevāya). Therefore you cause the actions of karma and jñāna etc. (yogānām pataye). Therefore I offer respects to you, Kṛṣṇa. With intense devotion he says namaḥ twice. I constantly offer respects. O, you are the cause of all beings from Brahmā to plants. You are by your nature the greatest (brahmaṇe). In terms of powers you have unlimited śaktis like māya-śakti and your svarūpa-śakti. Thus you are para-brahman in human form (kṛṣṇāya) and have appeared as the son of Vasudeva as a birth pastime, since you are the master of doing what is impossible (yogānām pataye). He offers repeated respects since what is the use of simply standing there without qualification. He desires service.
“In that case, stay here.” I offer respects to you. You are the source of everything, but without change, since you have unlimited powers of māyā. You are the shelter of all beings, the material source of everything. You have an eternal form of bliss (kṛṣṇāya). You give the results for all actions (yogānām pataye). Or, I can go only by being inspired by you. What can I do by my own powers? Showing how Kṛṣṇa is the inspirer of all beings, he describes his powers. You cause everyone’s actions since you are spread internally and externally (brahmane). “But the jīvas move by their own will. That is clearly seen.” You are the source of their powers (ananta-śaktaye) since you preside over their citta (vāsudevāya). Therefore you cause the actions of karma and jñāna etc. (yogānām pataye). Therefore I offer respects to you, Kṛṣṇa. With intense devotion he says namaḥ twice. I constantly offer respects. O, you are the cause of all beings from Brahmā to plants (sarva-bhāvāya). You appeared in the house of Vasudeva to give prema of your lotus feet. You are all-pervading (brahmaṇe) since you have infinite śaktis (ananta-śaktaye). You are the protector of bhakti-yoga, the method of producing bhāva. Plural (yogānām) is used to show respect. You reveal your confidential powers (kṛṣṇāya). I offer respects to you. I am not able to remain in this place on this occasion. Speculating about the cause of his pastimes, he is bewildered.
- Where am I still thinking of the Absolute Truth as an abstract principle rather than a person?
- How would addressing Kṛṣṇa by His relational names change my prayer today?
Obeisances repeated, repeated — not because Kṛṣṇa needs more, but because the heart, having found Him, has nothing else to do with itself. Repeated namaḥ is bhakti's natural meter.
My note
Source: vedabase.io