Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.51.20
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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varam
—
a benediction
From vṛ — to choose. The Bhāgavata's standard reward-vocabulary. Varas are limited to what the giver actually owns; the demigods own karma-rewards within saṁsāra, but not mukti.
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kaivalyam
—
liberation
From kevala — alone, exclusive. Kaivalya in non-Gauḍīya schools sometimes means the soul's isolation from prakṛti, even from Bhagavān. Gauḍīyas accept that only Viṣṇu can give liberation but redefine the destination as eternal sevā at His feet, not isolation.
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bhagavān-viṣṇuḥ
—
the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu
The demigods name the only One competent. Notice the doctrinal precision: not 'the gods,' not 'the absolute' — bhagavān viṣṇuḥ. Gauḍīyas read this as svayam-bhagavān surfacing through demigod speech; even Indra confesses Viṣṇu's monopoly on mukti.
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ekaḥ-eva
—
one alone
Phrase — 'only one.' Stark monotheistic point inside a polytheistic frame. The Bhāgavata's vocabulary admits many devas but insists on one liberator. Acintya-bhedābheda lives precisely here: many distinct devas, one Bhagavān to whom they all defer.
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avyayaḥ
—
the inexhaustible
From a-vi-√i — not subject to decay. The same epithet used in Gītā 7.25 and 10.3 for Bhagavān. Demigods exhaust; Viṣṇu does not. Mucukunda will hear this and, by verse 55, refuse every boon except service to the avyaya.
Only Visnu can grant that liberation (tasya).
Good fortune to you! This is their general blessing. “Ask a boon.” This is their particular blessing. Kaivalyam means freedom from saṁsāra and attainment of the spiritual world. Viṣṇu is the only person capable of bestowing it (īśvaraḥ) since he is endowed with all powers (bhagavān), inexhaustible though giving benedictions to unlimited people. He is not like us, who have very little power. We become weak by doing austerities etc.
Good fortune! They say this because they were very pleased with him. Or everything is auspicious for you. Now ask for a boon. Or ask for some auspicious boon, except for liberation or exclusive devotion to the Lord’s feet. Only the Lord endowed with all powers can give this (īśvaraḥ) or is its master. Liberation depends on him. By giving himself he is not depleted (avyayaḥ). Since he is spread inside and outside (viśṇuḥ) he has the power to bestow such a condition of being everywhere: he can award liberation.
A wealthy patron telling a long-serving employee, 'Choose any gift — but not citizenship in another country; that's not mine to give.' The demigods know their jurisdiction. Liberation is not in their treasury, only in Viṣṇu's. The verse is a precise theology of what devas can and cannot do.
My note
Source: vedabase.io