FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.5.6

तस्यानुभाव: कथितो गुणाश्च परमोदया: । भौमान्‍रेणून्स विममे यो विष्णोर्वर्णयेद् गुणान् ॥ ६ ॥
tasyānubhāvaḥ kathito
[tasyaanubhaavah kathito]
guṇāś ca paramodayāḥ
[gunaash cha paramodayaah]
bhaumān reṇūn sa vimame
[bhaumaan renoon sa vimame]
yo viṣṇor varṇayed guṇān
[yo vishnor varnayed gunaan]
tasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as Vaikuṇṭha anubhāvaḥ — great activities kathitaḥ — were explained guṇāḥ — transcendental qualities ca — also parama-udayāḥ — greatly glorious bhaumān — earthly reṇūn — particles saḥ — someone vimame — can count yaḥ — such a person viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu varṇayet — can count guṇān — the transcendental qualities.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyānubhāvaḥ kathito
tasya
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as Vaikuṇṭha
anubhāvaḥ
great activities
kathitaḥ
were explained
guṇāś ca paramodayāḥ
guṇāḥ
transcendental qualities
ca
also
parama-udayāḥ
greatly glorious
bhaumān reṇūn sa vimame
bhaumān
earthly
reṇūn
particles
saḥ
someone
vimame
can count
yaḥ
such a person
yo viṣṇor varṇayed guṇān
viṣṇoḥ
of Lord Viṣṇu
varṇayet
can count
guṇān
the transcendental qualities.
Although the great activities and transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s various incarnations are wonderfully described, sometimes we are unable to understand them. Yet everything is possible for Lord Viṣṇu. If one could count the atoms of the universe, then he could count the qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But no one can count the atoms of the universe, nor can anyone count the transcendental qualities of the Lord.

The Lord’s glorious activities referred to in this connection took place after His personal bodyguards Jaya and Vijaya became Daityas, having been cursed by the great sages Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanat-kumāra and Sanandana. Jaya, as Hiraṇyākṣa, had to fight with Varāhadeva, and that same Varāhadeva is mentioned in regard to the Raivata millennium. The fighting, however, took place during the reign of the first Manu, Svāyambhuva. Therefore according to some authorities there are two Varāhas. According to others, however, Varāha appeared during the regime of Svāyambhuva Manu and stayed in the water until that of Raivata Manu. Some may doubt that this could be possible, but the answer is that everything is possible. If one could count the atoms within the universe, one could count the qualities of Lord Viṣṇu. But the atoms of the universe are impossible for anyone to count, and similarly no one can count the transcendental qualities of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The activities and most glorious qualities of the Vaikuṇṭha abode have already been described. A mortal who succeeds in describing the qualities of Viṣṇu can count the particles of dust on earth. Vaikuṇṭha was described in the Third Canto. Its qualities are such things as fondness for the Vedas and brāhmaṇas.
One could sooner count the atoms of the universe than the Lord's transcendental qualities. Both are uncountable. Stop trying to finish your study of the Lord; the goal is not to complete an inventory but to fall in love with the infinite.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I treating knowledge of the Lord as a finite syllabus I will one day finish?
  • How does accepting His infinity change the rhythm of my study and meditation?
📝 My note

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