FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.51.36

శ్రీభగవానువాచ జన్మకర్మాభిధానాని సన్తి మేఽఙ్గ సహస్రశ: । న శక్యన్తేఽనుసఙ్ఖ్యాతుమనన్తత్వాన్మయాపి హి ॥ ౩౬ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
janma-karmābhidhānāni
[janma-karmaabhidhaanaani]
santi me ’ṅga sahasraśaḥ
[santi me ’nga sahasrashah]
na śakyante ’nusaṅkhyātum
[na shakyante ’nusankhyaatum]
anantatvān mayāpi hi
[anantatvaan mayaapi hi]
śrī - bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said janma — births karma — activities abhidhānāni — and names santi — there are me — My aṅga — O dear one sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands na śakyante — they cannot anusaṅkhyātum — be enumerated anantatvāt — because of having no limit mayā — by Me api hi — even .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī - bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Lord said
janma-karmābhidhānāni
janma
births
karma
activities
abhidhānāni
and names
santi me ’ṅga sahasraśaḥ
santi
there are
me
My
na śakyante ’nusaṅkhyātum
aṅga
O dear one
sahasraśaḥ
by the thousands
anantatvān mayāpi hi
na śakyante
they cannot
anusaṅkhyātum
be enumerated
anantatvāt
because of having no limit
mayā
by Me
api hi
even .
  • janma — births
    Same word Mucukunda used at verse 30. The Bhāgavata reuses the bhakta's vocabulary in the Lord's mouth — Kṛṣṇa answers in exactly the terms asked. Vaiṣṇava theology of janma: the Lord's births are countless, divya, and never product of karma.
  • abhidhānāni — names
    From abhi-√dhā — to name, designate. Bhagavān's names are infinite; Gauḍīyas treasure this verse as scriptural ground for nāma-saṅkīrtana. Each name is a doorway; there are thousands; even He cannot enumerate them.
  • sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands
    Adverb — 'thousand-fold-ly.' The number-language of Vaiṣṇava theology refuses to commit to a finite count. Bhagavān is sa-hasra in every dimension — births, names, līlās, devotees.
  • anantatvāt — because of having no limit
    Ablative of anantatva — endlessness. The reason Kṛṣṇa cannot count Himself: He is ananta. Ananta-deva is His own bed (Śeṣa); ananta is His attribute; both poetic and metaphysical.
  • mayā — by Me
    Phrase — 'even by Me, indeed.' The 'even Me' is the chapter's most arresting note: Bhagavān's confession of unbounded Self-extension. Gauḍīyas read this as Kṛṣṇa's own modesty inside His own infinity.
The Supreme Lord said: My dear friend, I have taken thousands of births, lived thousands of lives and accepted thousands of names. In fact My births, activities and names are limitless, and thus even I cannot count them.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: My dear friend, I have taken thousands of births, lived thousands of lives and accepted thousands of names. In fact My births, activities and names are limitless, and thus even I cannot count them.
Commentary

‘Though Mucukunda is completely without pride, he showed his position in order to hear my words. Therefore I also, though completely without pride, will now pronounce my own superior position to him. I have said, accordingly as they worship me, I also worship them" Considering this statement, Krsna then spoke.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

My births and activities cannot be counted to even an amount similar to their actual number. Anu can mean similarity according to Viśva. Hi means “for certain.”

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The Lord addresses him with respect (aṅga). My births and activities cannot be counted to even an amount similar to their actual number. Anu can mean similarity according to Viśva. Hi means “for certain.” “If you cannot count them, you cannot be said to have all powers.” The number is unlimited. The knowledge of the omniscient person is not contradicted by not knowing a flower in the sky.

Related values
Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Svadhyaya (Self-study & Scripture Study)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)
Related verses
Concepts
JivaKarma

Kṛṣṇa lifts His hands as if to show empty palms — 'My births, names, activities are thousands of thousands; even I cannot count them.' The verse is His humility-disclosed-as-glory: only the Infinite can confess infinity from inside.

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