What is the meaning of word "Krishna"?

Rama Krishna at Chilas
Balarama and Krishna with their attributes at Chilas. The Kharoshthi inscription nearby reads Rama Krishṣa. 1st century CE.



The word Krishna is composed of the root 'krish' meaning 'bhu', the shelter of all existence, and the word 'na', meaning 'nivriti' or the form of supreme bliss. Combined, they form the word Krishna, which signifies Param Brahma, the Supreme Absolute Truth.' The word Krishna means 'self-existing bliss.' The Vedanta has defined this as Anandam Brahm.

Taittiriya Upanishas says 'He is that ras (anand or bliss). One who drinks that ras, become full of bliss.' In another sense, the word Krishna means 'krish' - to attract (karshan) and 'na' - giving bliss. The one who attracts all and give them bliss, and who is blissful Himself, is known as Krishna.

In other words, Krishna means 'all attractive' and 'all-bliss-giving'. He cannot be all attractive without being super excellent in every respect. When He exhibits His aspect of being smaller than the smallest, Krishna is known as Parmatma. When He exhibits His aspect of being greater than greatest, He is known as Brahm. Then again, reconciling both His anu (microcosmic) and vibhu (macrocosmic) natures and accepting a medium-sized Form, Sri Krishna performs wonderful pastimes of infinte variegatedness. Knowers of the truth call that non-dual, absolute knowledge tattva- the Absolute Truth.

This non-dual knowledge is referred to by the words Brahm, Parmatma or Bhagavan. The word Brahm signifies the largest (Brihattva); Parmatma, the smallest (anutva); and Bhagavan, the all opulent (Sarvaishvaryamayatva: possessing all riches, all strength, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge and all renunciation). In other words, this encompasses the largest, the smallest, the middle and everything else in existence. The word Bhagavan reveals all the different aspects of the Absolute Truth. The gyani experiences that non dual tattva as Brahm, the yogi realizes Him as Parmatma and the bhakt sees Him as Bhagavan. Bhagavan manifests infinite pastimes in infinite Forms, among which Sri Krishna is His original Form (svayam rupa).

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