SB 10.14.7 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

गुणात्मनस्तेऽपि गुणान् विमातुं हितावतीर्णस्य क ईशिरेऽस्य । कालेन यैर्वा विमिता: सुकल्पै- र्भूपांशव: खे मिहिका द्युभास: ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

guṇātmanas te ’pi guṇān vimātuṁ hitāvatīṛnasya ka īśire ’sya kālena yair vā vimitāḥ su-kalpair bhū-pāṁśavaḥ khe mihikā dyu-bhāsaḥ

Synonyms

guṇa — ātmanaḥ — of the possessor of all superior qualities ; te — You ; api — certainly ; guṇān — the qualities ; vimātum — to count ; hita — avatīrṇasya — who have descended for the benefit of all living entities ; ke — who ; īśire — are able ; asya — of the universe ; kālena — in due course of time ; yaiḥ — by whom ; vā — or ; vimitāḥ — counted ; su — kalpaiḥ — by great scientists ; bhū — pāṁśavaḥ — the atoms of an earthly planet ; khe — in the sky ; mihikāḥ — the particles of snow ; dyu — bhāsaḥ — the illumination of stars and planets .

Translation

In time, learned philosophers or scientists might be able to count all the atoms of the earth, the particles of snow, or perhaps even the shining molecules radiating from the sun, the stars and other luminaries. But among these learned men, who could possibly count the unlimited transcendental qualities possessed by You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have descended onto the surface of the earth for the benefit of all living entities?

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

In time, learned philosophers or scientists might be able to count all the atoms of the earth, the particles of snow, or perhaps even the shining molecules radiating from the sun, the stars and other luminaries. But among these learned men, who could possibly count the unlimited transcendental qualities possessed by You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have descended onto the surface of the earth for the benefit of all living entities? KB 10.14.7 There may be some philosophers or scientists who can study the cosmic nature from atom to atom; they may be so advanced that they can count the atomic composition of the cosmic atmosphere or all the planets and stars in the sky, or even the shining molecular particles of the sun or of the stars and other luminaries in the sky. But it is not possible to count the qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As described in the beginning of the Vedānta-sūtra, the Supreme Person is the origin of all qualities. He is generally called nirguṇa. Nirguṇa means “whose qualities are beyond estimation.” Guṇa means “quality,” and nir means “beyond estimation.” But impersonalists interpret this word nirguṇa as “having no quality.” Because they are unable to estimate the qualities of the Lord in transcendental realization, they conclude that the Supreme Lord has no qualities. But that is actually not the position. The real position is that He is the original source of all qualities. All qualities are emanating constantly from Him. How, therefore, can a limited person count the qualities of the Lord? One may estimate the qualities of the Lord at one moment, but the next moment the qualities have increased; so it is not possible to make an estimation of the transcendental qualities of the Lord. He is therefore called nirguṇa. One should not uselessly labor in mental speculation to estimate the Lord’s qualities. There is no need of adopting the speculative method or exercising the body to attain mystic yoga perfection.

Purport

Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa is guṇātmā, “the soul of all superior qualities,” because He gives them life. For example, one may discuss in an abstract way such qualities as generosity, intelligence and mercy, but they come to life only when a living person exhibits them. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa is guṇātmā because He descends to the material world and reestablishes religious principles by exhibiting all godly qualities Himself and inspiring them in others. A living entity who develops the transcendental qualities found in the Lord receives immeasurable benefit and eventually goes with the Lord back to His own abode, where all living beings are liberated and fully endowed with the transcendental nature. Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī further explains that the Lord manifests a specific spiritual quality for the benefit of each living entity. Since there are innumerable living entities within the confines of the material creation, the Lord manifests infinite qualities. Thus every conditioned soul can appreciate the Supreme Lord in a particular way. The example is given here that even if the most learned scholars could someday count the particles of earth, snow and light, they would still fail to understand the qualities of the Lord. In this example earth, snow and light are progressively more subtle; thus it is to be understood that there is an increasing difficulty in counting their virtually infinite particles. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, great personalities like Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa actually have counted the number of atoms on the earth, and even the molecules in the entire universe. Yet even such a personality as Saṅkarṣaṇa, who has been continuously chanting the glories of the Lord since time immemorial, has not even approached a final count of those glories. Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibits His most astonishing qualities during His childhood pastimes in Vṛndāvana, where He steals butter from the cowherd ladies, dances with His girlfriends, and plays with His cowherd boyfriends as their most dear companion. Although appearing like ordinary human activities, such sublime pastimes embody Lord Kṛṣṇa’s immeasurable and innumerable beautiful transcendental qualities, which are the life and soul of the pure devotees.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

"Without prema bhakti, no one can understand your transcendental form. Even those who have surpassed the material ocean, full of knowledge, cannot understand that form. If the men of this world cannot understand you, even if you are present before us, we cannot understand you. Thus it goes without saying that no one can describe your innumerable sweet qualities, what to speak of realizing those qualities. Those qualities are eternal and spiritual, arising from your spiritual form (gunatmanah). Brahma tarka says: gunaih svarupa bhutais tu guny asau harir isvarah . the lord is possess of qualities which arise from his svarupa. But who can count (vimatum) those qualities. No one can. The avataras such as sankarsana, who descend to the earth to extuinguish the suffering of the world, can count the particles of dust, or the snowflakes, or even the particles of sunlight, but even if they count continuously, they cannot come to an end of enumerating your glories." There is another meaning of gunatmanah. "The lord is protector of the world consisting of three gunas. No one can come to and end of counting the qualities of you who engage in pastimes of protecting the universe. What to speak then of being able to describe your astonishing qualities which engage you in sweet pastimes such as stealing yogurt."

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

In the previous explanations some prima facie (impersonal) views were presented. Now the refutation takes place with this verse. Particularly, no one can know the greatness of you—who have appeared on your own. The verses lead to the conclusion of Kṛṣṇa’s greatness in order to start another topic. Thus the verse states that no one can measure your qualities. Guṇātmanaḥ can mean the vitalizer of qualities. Those qualities which were latent in other avatāras but not visible are now visible in you. Or guṇātmanaḥ can mean “of the person whose qualities belong to his svarūpa.” Thus it means a person with eternal, spiritual qualities. guṇaiḥ svarūpa-bhūtais tu guṇy asau harir ucyate na viṣnor na ca muktānāṁ kvāpi bhinno guṇo mataḥ The Lord is called the possessor of qualities because his qualities belong to his svarūpa. The qualities of Viṣṇu and liberated devotees are not different from this. Brahma-tarka sattvādayo na santīśe yatra ca prākṛtā gunā In Viṣṇu there are no material guṇas. Viṣṇu Purāṇa 1.9.44 jñāna-śakti-balaiśvarya-vīrya-tjeāṁsy aśeṣataḥ bhagavac-chabda vācyāni vināheyair guṇādibhiḥ The word bhagavān means that he is complete with power of mind (omniscience), power of senses, power of body, influence, control, and beauty, and is devoid of all inferior qualities. Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.5.79 yo ‘sau nirguṇa ity uktaḥ śāstreṣu jagad īśvaraḥ prākṛtair heya-saṁyuktair guṇair heyatvam ucyate It is said in all scriptures that the Lord of the universe is without qualities. He is devoid of inferior qualities. The word “inferior” means material qualities. Padma Purāṇa māṁ bhajanti guṇāḥ sarve nirguṇaṁ nirapekṣakam suhṛdaṁ priyam ātmānaṁ sāmyāsaṅgādayo ’guṇāḥ All superior qualities, which are eternal, such as equality to all beings and attachment to my devotee, reside in me. I am beyond the material guṇas, not dependent on material qualities, and am the devotees’ friend, giving love to them. SB 11.13.40 Śrīdhara Svāmī explains the word aguṇāḥ in the above verse. It means without transformation of qualities or eternal. Who can enumerate your greatness in detail (vi-mātum)? No one can do so. You have manifested your qualities (avatīrṇasya) for the benefit of all people of the universe (asya). The Lord expects to reveal the particular qualities beneficial for a particular jīva. The jīvas are unlimited. Their natures are unlimited. They are in unlimitedly different conditions. Therefore in response to them, your qualities are unlimited. By all that variety there is supreme unlimitedness. That is impossible to count. What to speak of the unlimited places and time in their various planets? Someone may be able to count the dust, snowflakes or photons which are progressively finer and more numerous. (The verb īśire should be understood). Saṅkarṣaṇa may be able to count those particles within the limits of one universe. But Mahā-viṣṇu in whose pores reside billions of universe like atoms is only your aṁśa. Verses 6 and 7 show the great difficulty in understanding the greatness of Kṛṣṇa, who is endowed with qualities. Thus the proposition that the subject of verse 2 is Brahman with no qualities is thus rejected. Thus I have shown Śrīdhara Svāmī’s explanations of verses 2and 6 as the prima facie view and then given refutation. This should not be considered incorrect.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Particularly one cannot understand the extent of your qualities when you appear in the world. Qualities which were previously latent and unmanifest are revealed by you now. You are the life-giver of qualities (guṇātmanaḥ). Being manifest they should be measurable. Who can in detail enumerate your qualities (vi-matum)? No one can, because you have appeared in the world to give benefit all the jīvas. The meaning is this. The Lord reveals qualities suitable for the benefit of that jīva. The jīvas are unlimited and their natures are unlimited. And their conditions are unlimited. Thus your qualities that your reveal for each of them are unlimited. It is not possible to count them. No one can count them. The particles of earth, snow and light are progressively finer.