Please tell me that transcendental knowledge which specifically directs one

to the truth of the individual soul and the Supersoul

TEXT 1
Çré Närada Muni asked Brahmäjé: O chief amongst the demigods, O firstborn
living entity, I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Please tell me that
transcendental knowledge which specifically directs one to the truth of the
individual soul and the Supersoul (tad vijänéhi yaj jïänam ätma-tattva-
nidarçanam).
Parampara system of receiving knowledge
The perfection of the paramparä system, or the path of disciplic succession, is further
confirmed. In the previous chapter it has been established that Brahmäjé, the firstborn living
entity, received knowledge directly from the Supreme Lord, and the same knowledge was
imparted to Närada, the next disciple. Närada asked to receive the knowledge, and
Brahmäjé imparted it upon being asked. Therefore, asking for transcendental knowledge
from the right person and receiving it properly is the regulation of the disciplic succession.
Inquisitive student must approach qualified spiritual master
The inquisitive student must approach a qualified spiritual master to receive transcendental
knowledge by surrender, submissive inquiries and service. Knowledge received by
submissive inquiries and service is more effective than knowledge received in exchange for
money. A bona fide student has to satisfy him by sincere service to obtain knowledge of the
relation and nature of the individual soul and the Supersoul.

TEXT 2
My dear father, please describe factually (tattvam) the symptoms of this manifest
world (yad rüpaà). What is its background? (yad adhiñöhänaà) How is it created?
(yataù såñöam) How is it conserved? (yat saàsthaà) And under whose control is
all this being done? (yat param)
Sri Narada Muni’s inquiries on creation
The inquiries by Närada Muni based on factual cause and effect appear very reasonable.
The atheists, however, put forward many self-made theories without any touch of cause and
effect. Närada Muni wanted to know all the facts of creation in truth, and not by theories.
Signs of an Intelligent man
Transcendental knowledge regarding the soul and the Supersoul includes
knowledge of the phenomenal world and the basis of its creation. In the
phenomenal world three things are factually observed by any intelligent man: the
living beings, the manifest world, and the ultimate control over them. The
intelligent man can see that neither the living entity nor the phenomenal world
are creations of chance. The symmetry of creation and its regulative actions and
reactions suggests the plan of an intelligent brain behind them, and by genuine
inquiry one may find out the ultimate cause with the help of one who knows them
factually.

You know everything about this creation, because everything

created in the past, present and future is within your grip like
a walnut (bhūta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuḥ)

TEXT 3
My dear father, all this is known to you scientifically (sarvaà hy etad
bhavän veda) because whatever was created in the past, whatever will be
created in the future, or whatever is being created at present (sarvaà hy
etad bhavän veda), as well as everything within the universe, is within your
grip, just like a walnut (karä~amalaka-vad viçvaà).
Lord Brahma (Trikalagya : knows past, present and future, omniscient)
Brahmä is the direct creator of the manifested universe and everything within the universe.
He therefore knows what happened in the past, what will happen in the future, and what is
happening at present. The direct manufacturer of a particular thing is supposed to know
how he learned the art of manufacturing, where he got the ingredients, how he set it up and
how the products in the manufacturing process are being turned out. Because Brahmä is the
firstborn living being, naturally he is supposed to know everything about creative functions.

You are independent: I think you are the supreme

independent Lord (ekaḥ)

TEXT 4
My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge (yad-vijïäno)? Under
whose protection are you standing (yad-ädhäro)? And under whom are you
working (yat-paras tvaà)? What is your real position? (yad-ätmakaù) Do you
alone create all entities with material elements by your personal energy?
(ekaù såjasi bhütäni bhütair evätma-mäyayä)
Why Sri Narada Muni asked this question?
It was known to Çré Närada Muni that Lord Brahmä attained creative energy by
undergoing severe austerities. As such, he could understand that there was
someone else superior to Brahmäjé who invested Brahmä with the power of
creation. Therefore he asked all the above questions. Discoveries of progressive
scientific achievements are therefore not independent. The scientist has to attain
the knowledge of a thing already existing by means of the wonderful brain made
by someone else. A scientist can work with the help of such an awarded brain,
but it is not possible for the scientist to create his own or a similar brain. Therefore
no one is independent in the matter of any creation, nor is such creation automatic.
You are self-sufficient: You create by your energy just like a spider creates a
cobweb without anyone’s help

TEXT 5
As the spider very easily creates the network of its cobweb and manifests
its power of creation without being defeated by others, so also you
yourself, by employment of your self-sufficient energy, create without any
other's help.
Example of Sun
The best example of self-sufficiency is the sun. The sun does not require to be illuminated
by any other body. Rather, it is the sun which helps all other illuminating agents, for in the
presence of the sun no other illuminating agent becomes prominent.
Example of a spider
Närada compared the position of Brahmä to the self-sufficiency of the spider, who
creates its own field of activities without any other's help by employment of its
own energetic creation of saliva.
I know no other source for the creation (superior,
inferior or medium) but you
 TEXT 6
Whatever we can understand by the nomenclature, characteristics and features
of a particular thing—superior (paraà), inferior (aparam) or equal (samam),
eternal or temporary—is not created from any source other than that of Your
Lordship, thou so great.
Varieties of creation
The manifested world is full of varieties of created beings in 8,400,00 species of life, and
some of them are superior and inferior to others. In human society the human being is
considered to be the superior living being, and amongst the human beings there are also
different varieties: good, bad, equal, etc. But Närada Muni took for granted that none
of them has any source of generation besides his father, Brahmäjé. Therefore he
wanted to know all about them from Lord Brahmä.

7-8. Clarify my doubts about you: But why do you

perform so much austerity (ghoraṁ tapaḥ)? Is there
someone more powerful than you? Please clarify.

TEXT 7
Yet we are moved to wonder about the existence of someone more
powerful than you when we think of your great austerities in perfect
discipline (acarad ghoraà yat tapaù susamähitaù), although your good self
is so powerful in the matter of creation.
No blind acceptance of Spiritual master
Following in the footsteps of Çré Närada Muni, one should not blindly accept his
spiritual master as God Himself. A spiritual master is duly respected on a par with
God, but a spiritual master claiming to be God Himself should at once be rejected.
Närada Muni accepted Brahmä as the Supreme due to Lord Brahmä's wonderful
acts in creation, but doubts arose in him when he saw that Lord Brahmä also
worshiped some superior authority. The Supreme is supreme, and He has no
worshipable superior.
ahaìgrahopäsanä
The ahaìgrahopäsitä, or the one who worships himself with the idea of becoming God
Himself, is misleading, but the intelligent disciple can at once detect that the Supreme God
does not need to worship anyone, including Himself, in order to become God. No one
becomes God by undergoing a process of transcendental realization.
Narada Muni wanted to clarify doubts
Närada Muni thought of Brahmäjé as the Supreme Person, but when he saw Brahmäjé
engaged in the process of transcendental realization, doubts arose in him. So he wanted to
be clearly informed.

7-8. Clarify my doubts about you: But why do you

perform so much austerity (ghoraṁ tapaḥ)? Is there
someone more powerful than you? Please clarify.

TEXT 8
My dear father, you know everything, and you are the controller of all
(sarvaà sarva-jïa sakala içvara). Therefore may all that I have inquired from
you be kindly instructed to me so that I may be able to understand it as
your student (vijänéhi yathaivedam ahaà budhye 'anuçäsitaù).
Sri Narada Muni’s inquiries important for everyone
The inquiries made by Närada Muni are very important for everyone concerned,
and as such Närada requested Brahmäjé to deem them suitable so that all others
who may come in the line of disciplic succession of the Brahma-sampradäya may
also know them properly without any difficulty.

O Nārada! Being merciful to me, you have asked these

questions. Because of your inspiration I am able to
meditate on the Lord’s prowess (bhagavad-vīrya-darśane)

TEXT 9
Lord Brahmä said: My dear boy Närada (vatsa), being merciful to all
(including me) (käruëikasya) you have asked all these questions (te
vicikitsitam) because I have been inspired to see into the prowess of the
Almighty Personality of Godhead (yad ahaà coditaù saumya bhagavad-
vérya-darçane).
Brahmaji congratulated Naradaji and eager to glorify Lord
Brahmäjé, being so questioned by Näradajé, congratulated him, for it is usual for the
devotees to become very enthusiastic whenever they are questioned concerning the
Almighty Personality of Godhead. That is the sign of a pure devotee of the Lord. Such
discourses on the transcendental activities of the Lord purify the atmosphere in which such
discussions are held, and the devotees thus become enlivened while answering such
questions. It is purifying both for the questioners and for one who answers the questions.
The pure devotees are not only satisfied by knowing everything about the Lord,
but are also eager to broadcast the information to others, for they want to see
that the glories of the Lord are known to everyone. Thus the devotee feels
satisfied when such an opportunity is offered to him. This is the basic principle of
missionary activities.

He is beyond me : Unless one is aware of the position of the

Supreme Lord, who is beyond me, one is sure to be
illusioned by observing my powerful activities

TEXT 10
Whatever you have spoken about me is not false (na anåtaà) because
unless and until one is aware of the Personality of Godhead, who is the
ultimate truth beyond me, one is sure to be illusioned by observing my
powerful activities (yathä mäà prabravéñi bhoù avijïäya paraà matta etävat
tvaà yato hi me).
Frog in the well
"The frog in the well" logic illustrates that a frog residing in the atmosphere and boundary of
a well cannot imagine the length and breadth of the gigantic ocean. Such a frog, when
informed of the gigantic length and breadth of the ocean, first of all does not believe that
there is such an ocean, and if someone assures him that factually there is such a thing, the
frog then begins to measure it by imagination by means of pumping its belly as far as
possible, with the result that the tiny abdomen of the frog bursts and the poor frog dies
without any experience of the actual ocean. Similarly, the material scientists also want to
challenge the inconceivable potency of the Lord by measuring Him with their froglike brains
and their scientific achievements, but at the end they simply die unsuccessfully, like the
frog.
Lord Brahma’s position in this material world
Sometimes a materially powerful man is accepted as God or the incarnation of God without
any knowledge of the factual God. Such a material assessment may be gradually extended,
and the attempt may reach to the highest limit of Brahmäjé, who is the topmost living being
within the universe and has a duration of life unimaginable to the material scientist.
Brahmäjé's one day and night is calculated to be some hundreds of thousands of years on
our planet. This long duration of life may not be believed by "the frog in the well," but
persons who have a realization of the truths mentioned in the Bhagavad-gétä accept the
existence of a great personality who creates the variegatedness of the complete universe. It
is understood from the revealed scriptures that the Brahmäjé of this universe is
younger than all the other Brahmäs in charge of the many, many universes
beyond this, but none of them can be equal to the Personality of Godhead.
Who is Sri Narada muni?
Näradajé is one of the liberated souls, and after his liberation he was known as Närada;
otherwise, before his liberation, he was simply a son of a maidservant. The questions may
be asked why Näradajé was not aware of the Supreme Lord and why he misconceived
Brahmäjé to be the Supreme Lord, although factually he was not.
Why liberated soul as Narada muni seems bewildered?
A liberated soul is never bewildered by such a mistaken idea, so why did Näradajé ask all
those questions just like an ordinary man with a poor fund of knowledge? There was such
bewilderment in Arjuna also, although he is eternally the associate of the Lord. Such
bewilderment in Arjuna or in Närada takes place by the will of the Lord so that other,
nonliberated persons may realize the real truth and knowledge of the Lord. The doubt
arising in the mind of Närada about Brahmäjé's becoming all-powerful is a lesson for the
frogs in the well.
No one can claim to be supreme authority at any time
The Supreme Lord is always the Supreme, and as we have tried to establish many times in
these purports, no living being, even up to the standard of Brahmä, can claim to be one with
the Lord. The great authorities have estimated Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira to be a pious man, but
they have accepted Lord Räma or Kåñëa as the Personality of Godhead. The Lord is
therefore a different identity in all circumstances, and no idea of anthropomorphism
(extending the image of man to the Supreme Lord) can be applied to Him. The Lord is
always the Lord, and a common living being can never be equal to Him.

TEXT 11
I create after the Lord's creation by His personal effulgence [known as the
brahma-jyoti], just as when the sun manifests its fire, the moon, the
firmament (heaven or the sky), the influential planets and the twinkling
stars also manifest their brightness.
Lord Brahma is the secondary creator
Lord Brahmäjé said to Närada that his impression that Brahmä was not the
supreme authority in the creation was correct. Sometimes less intelligent men
have the foolish impression that Brahmä is the cause of all causes. But Närada
wanted to clear the matter by the statements of Brahmäjé, the supreme authority
in the universe.
Lord Brahma’s statement (brahma-jyoti is the source of unlimited planets)
In this verse Brahmäjé clears up the wrong impression held by the less intelligent and
affirms that he creates the universal variegatedness after the potential creation by the
glaring effulgence of Lord Çré Kåñëa.
Lord Krsna – source of brahma-jyoti
The same statement is in the Bhagavad-gétä (14.27). Lord Kåñëa is the background of the
brahma-jyoti (brahmaëo hi pratiñöhäham). Brahma-jyoti is not independent or self-
sufficient. Lord Çré Kåñëa is ultimately the creator of the brahma-jyoti, mentioned in this
verse as sva-rociñä, or the effulgence of the transcendental body of the Lord. This brahma-
jyoti is all-pervading, and all creation is made possible by its potential power; therefore the
Vedic hymns declare that everything that exists is being sustained by the brahma-jyoti
(sarvaà khalv idaà brahma). Therefore the potential seed of all creation is the brahma-jyoti,
and the same brahma-jyoti, unlimited and unfathomed, is established by the Lord.
Lord creates by His multifarious potencies
One should not expect the Lord to create like a blacksmith with a hammer and other
instruments. The Lord creates by His potencies. He has His multifarious potencies (paräsya
çaktir vividhaiva çrüyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]). Just as the small seed of a banyan
fruit has the potency to create a big banyan tree, the Lord disseminates all varieties of
seeds by His potential brahma-jyoti (sva-rociñä), and the seeds are made to develop by
the watering process of persons like Brahmä. Brahmä cannot create the seeds,
but he can manifest the seed into a tree, just as a gardener helps plants and
orchards to grow by the watering process.
Analogy of Sun
The example cited here of the sun is very appropriate. In the material world the sun is the
cause of all illumination: fire, electricity, the rays of the moon, etc. All luminaries in the sky
are creations of the sun, the sun is the creation of the brahma-jyoti, and the brahma-jyoti is
the effulgence of the Lord. Thus the ultimate cause of creation is Lord.

My obeisances unto the Lord by whose māyā, people call me

the Supreme controller

TEXT 12
I offer my obeisances and meditate upon Lord Kåñëa [Väsudeva], the
Personality of Godhead, whose invincible potency influences them [the less
intelligent class of men] to call me the supreme controller.

Power of illusory potency of the Lord

The illusory potency of the Lord bewilders the less intelligent to accept Brahmäjé, or for that
matter any other person, as the Supreme Lord. Brahmäjé, however, refuses to be called
this, and he directly offers his respectful obeisances unto Lord Väsudeva, or Çré Kåñëa, the
Personality of Godhead, just like in the Brahma-saàhitä (5.1):
éçvaraù paramaù kåñëaù
sac-cid-änanda-vigrahaù
anädir ädir govindaù
sarva-käraëa-käraëam
"The Supreme Lord is the Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa, the primeval Lord in His
transcendental body, the ultimate cause of all causes. I worship that primeval Lord
Govinda."
Lord Brahma is not bewildered
Brahmäjé is conscious of his actual position, and he knows how less intelligent persons,
bewildered by the illusory energy of the Lord, whimsically accept anyone and everyone as
God. A responsible personality like Brahmäjé refuses to be addressed as the Supreme Lord
by his disciples or subordinates, but foolish persons praised by men of the nature of dogs,
hogs, camels and asses feel flattered to be addressed as the Supreme Lord. Why such
persons take pleasure in being addressed as God, or why such persons are addressed as
God by foolish admirers, is explained in the following verse.

Mamāham: Identifying with the conception of ‘me and mine’,

ignorant persons bewildered by māyā talk nonsense. Even
māyā cannot stand in front of the Lord (she stands behind the
Lord), being ashamed of her position (of deceiving the people)

TEXT 13
The illusory energy of the Lord cannot take precedence, being ashamed of
her position(vilajjamänayä), but those who are bewildered by her always
talk nonsense, being absorbed in thoughts of "It is I" and "It is mine."
(vimohitä vikatthante mama aham iti durdhiyaù)
Mayadevi ashamed of her position
The invincibly powerful deluding energy of the Personality of God, or the third
energy, representing nescience, can bewilder the entire world of animation, but
still she is not strong enough to be able to stand in front of the Supreme Lord.
Nescience is behind the Personality of Godhead, where she is powerful enough to
mislead the living beings, and the primary symptom of bewildered persons is that
they talk nonsense. Nonsensical talks are not supported by the principles of Vedic
literatures, and first-grade nonsense talk is "It is I, it is mine."
Those who surrender to Lord cannot be bewildered
Those who are before the Lord, however, and who surrender unto Him, cannot be influenced
by the deluding energy; therefore they are free from the misconception of "It is I, it is mine,"
and therefore they do not accept a false God or pose themselves as equal to the Supreme
Lord. Identification of the bewildered person is distinctly given in this verse.

‘Characteristics’ of the universe : The five components of this

universe are non-different from Lord Vāsudeva, being His
differentiated parts & parcels. Nothing but He exists in truth

TEXT 14
The five elementary ingredients of creation (dravyaà), the interaction
thereof set up by eternal time (karma ca kälaç ca), and the intuition or
nature (svabhävo) of the individual living beings (jéva) are all
differentiated parts and parcels of the Personality of Godhead, Väsudeva,
and in truth there is no other value in them (na cänyo 'artho 'asti
tattva~taù).
Phenomenal world – representation of Vasudeva
This phenomenal world is impersonally the representation of Väsudeva because
the ingredients of its creation, their interaction and the enjoyer of the resultant
action, the living being, are all produced by the external and internal energies of
Lord Kåñëa. The ingredients, namely earth, water, fire, air and sky, as well as the
conception of material identity, intelligence and the mind, are produced of the external
energy of the Lord.
Living entity : enjoys the interaction of gross and subtle ingredients
The living entity who enjoys the interaction of the above gross and subtle ingredients, as set
up by eternal time, is an offshoot of internal potency, with freedom to remain either in the
material world or in the spiritual world. In the material world the living entity is enticed by
deluding nescience, but in the spiritual world he is in the normal condition of spiritual
existence without any delusion. The living entity is known as the marginal potency of the
Lord. But in all circumstances, neither the material ingredients nor the spiritual parts and
parcels are independent of the Personality of Godhead Väsudeva, for all things, whether
products of the external, internal or marginal potencies of the Lord, are simply displays of
the same effulgence of the Lord,
Analogy
just as light, heat and smoke are displays of fire. None of them are separate from
the fire—all of them combine together to be called fire; similarly, all phenomenal
manifestations, as well as the effulgence of the body of Väsudeva, are His
impersonal features, whereas He eternally exists in His transcendental form
called sac-cid-änanda-vigrahaù [Bs. 5.1], distinct from all conceptions of the material
ingredients.

15-16. ‘Shelter’ and ‘Dependence’ of the universe: Lord

Nārāyaṇa is the shelter of whatever you see in this universe
that is worth taking shelter of

TEXT 15
The Vedic literatures (vedä) are made by and are meant for the Supreme Lord
(näräyaëa-parä), the demigods are also meant for serving the Lord as parts of His
body, the different planets (parä lokä) are also meant for the sake of the Lord,
and different sacrifices are performed just to please Him (makhäù).

Vedänta-sütras (çästra-yonitvät Vedanta Sutra 1.1.3)

According to the Vedänta-sütras (çästra-yonitvät), the Supreme Lord is the
author of all revealed scriptures, and all revealed scriptures are for knowing the
Supreme Lord. Veda means knowledge that leads to the Lord. The Vedas are
made just to revive the forgotten consciousness of the conditioned souls, and any
literature not meant for reviving God consciousness is rejected at once by the
näräyaëa-para devotees. Such deluding books of knowledge, not having Näräyaëa as
their aim, are not at all knowledge, but are the playgrounds for crows who are interested in
the rejected refuse of the world.
The demigods : worshipped in relation to Narayana
The demigods are recommended secondarily for worship in relation to Näräyaëa because
the demigods are assisting hands in the management of the universal affairs. As the officers
of a kingdom are respected due to their relation to the king, the demigods are worshiped
due to their relation to the Lord. Without the Lord's relation, worship of the demigods is
unauthorized (avidhi-pürvakam), just as it is improper to water the leaves and branches of a
tree without watering its root.
Varieties of life in different lokas
The lokas, or different planets, are attractive because they have different
varieties of life and bliss partially representing the sac-cid-änanda-vigraha [Bs.
5.1]. Everyone wants the eternal life of bliss and knowledge. In the material world
such an eternal life of bliss and knowledge is progressively realized in the upper
planets, but after reaching there one is inclined to achieve further progress along
the path back to Godhead. Duration of life, with a proportionate quantity of bliss
and knowledge, may be increased from one planet to another. One can increase
the duration of life to thousands and hundreds of thousands of years in different
planets, but nowhere is there eternal life. But one who can reach the highest
planet, that of Brahmä, can aspire to reach the planets in the spiritual sky, where
life is eternal. Therefore, the progressive journey from one planet to another
culminates in reaching the supreme planet of the Lord (mad-dhäma).
Different sacrifices
All different kinds of sacrifice are performed just to satisfy Lord Näräyaëa with a view to
reach Him, and the best sacrifice recommended in this age of Kali is saìkértana-yajïa, the
mainstay of the devotional service of a näräyaëa-para devotee.

15-16. ‘Shelter’ and ‘Dependence’ of the universe: Lord

Nārāyaṇa is the shelter of whatever you see in this universe
that is worth taking shelter of

TEXT 16
All different types of meditation or mysticism (yogaù) are means for realizing
Näräyaëa. All austerities (tapaù) are aimed at achieving Näräyaëa. Culture of
transcendental knowledge (jïänaà) is for getting a glimpse of Näräyaëa, and
ultimately salvation (gatiù) is entering the kingdom of Näräyaëa.
Two systems of yoga process
In meditation, there are two systems of yoga, namely añöäìga-yoga and säìkhya-yoga.
Añöäìga-yoga is practice in concentrating the mind, releasing oneself from all engagements
by the regulative processes of meditation, concentration, sitting postures, blocking the
movements of the internal circulation of air, etc. Säìkhya-yoga is meant to distinguish the
truth from ephemerals. But ultimately both the systems are meant for realizing the
impersonal Brahman, which is but a partial representation of Näräyaëa, the Personality of
Godhead. Impersonal Brahman is situated on the person of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and as such, Brahman is the glorification of the personality of the Godhead.
Ultimate destination
Gati refers to the ultimate destination, or the last word in liberation. Oneness
with the impersonal brahma-jyoti is not ultimate liberation; superior to that is the
sublime association of the Personality of Godhead in one of the innumerable
spiritual planets in the Vaikuëöha sky. The conclusion is that Näräyaëa, or the
Personality of Godhead, is the ultimate destination for all kinds of yoga systems
as well as all kinds of liberation.

I am also created by Him (Nārāyaṇa), and I only create what

has already been created by Him, under His supervision
(īkṣaya) and inspiration (abhicoditaḥ)
TEXT 17
Inspired by Him only (abhicoditaù), I discover what is already created (såjyaà
såjämi) by Him [Näräyaëa] under His vision (ékñayaivä) as the all-pervading
Supersoul (äkhilä atmanaù), and I also am created by Him only (tasyäpi såñöo
'aham).
Lord Brahma acts by the inspiration of Supreme Lord
Even Brahmä, the creator of the universe, admits that he is not the actual creator but is
simply inspired by the Lord Näräyaëa and therefore creates under His superintendence
those things already created by Him.
Identities of the Souls
Two identities of soul, the Supersoul and the individual soul - The Supersoul is the Supreme
Lord whereas the individual soul is the eternal servitor of the Lord. The Lord inspires the
individual soul to create what is already created by the Lord, and by the good will of the
Lord, a discoverer of something in the world is accredited.
Example of Columbus
It is said that Columbus discovered the Western Hemisphere, but actually the tract of land
was not created by Columbus. The vast tract of land was already there by the omnipotency
of the Supreme Lord, and Columbus, by dint of his past service unto the Lord, was blessed
with the credit of discovering America.
Principle
Similarly, no one can create anything without the sanction of the Lord, since everyone sees
according to his ability. This ability is also awarded by the Lord according to one's
willingness to render service unto the Lord. One must therefore be voluntarily willing to
render service unto the Lord, and thus the Lord will empower the doer in proportion to his
surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Lord Brahmä is a great devotee of the Lord;
therefore he has been empowered or inspired by the Lord to create such a universe as the
one manifested before us.
Example of Arjuna (acting under the will of the Lord)
The Lord also inspired Arjuna to fight in the field of Kurukñetra. The Battle of Kurukñetra, or
any other battle at any place or at any time, is made by the will of the Lord, for no one can
arrange such mass annihilation without the sanction of the Lord. The party of Duryodhana
insulted Draupadé, a great devotee of Kåñëa, and she appealed to the Lord as well as to all
the silent observers of this unwarranted insult. Arjuna was then advised by the Lord to fight
and take credit; otherwise the party of Duryodhana would be killed anyway by the will of the
Lord. So Arjuna was advised just to become the agent and take the credit for killing great
generals like Bhéñma and Karëa.
Surrendered Soul v/s Not surrendered souls
In the Vedic writings such as the Kaöha Upaniñad, the Lord is described as the sarva-bhüta-
antarätmä, or the Personality of Godhead who resides in everyone's body and who directs
everything for one who is a soul surrendered unto Him. Those who are not surrendered
souls are put under the care of the material nature (bhrämayan sarva-bhütäni
yanträrüòhäni mäyayä [Bg. 18.61]); therefore, they are allowed to do things on their own
account and suffer the consequences themselves. Devotees like Brahmä and Arjuna do not
do anything on their own account, but as fully surrendered souls they always await
indications from the Lord; therefore they attempt to do something which appears very
wonderful to ordinary vision.

18. The transcendental Lord accepted the three gunas through

His mãyã sakti, just for the sake of creation, maintenance and
destruction.

TEXT 18
The Supreme Lord is pure spiritual form, transcendental to all material qualities
(nirguëasya), yet for the sake of the creation of the material world and its
maintenance and annihilation (sthiti-sarga-nirodheñu), He accepts through His
external energy (gåhétä mäyayä) the material modes of nature called goodness,
passion and ignorance (guëäs trayaù).
Difference between The Lord and Living entities
The Supreme Lord is the master of the external energy manifested by the three material
modes, namely goodness, passion and ignorance, and as master of this energy He is ever
unaffected by the influence of such bewildering energy. The living entities, the jévas,
however, are affected by or susceptible to being influenced by such modes of material
nature—that is the difference between the Lord and the living entities. The living entities are
subjected by those qualities, although originally the living entities are qualitatively one with
the Lord.
Modes of material nature (3 gunas)
In other words, the material modes of nature, being products of the energy of the Lord, are
certainly connected with the Lord, but the connection is just like that between the master
and the servants. The Supreme Lord is the controller of the material energy, whereas the
living entities, who are entangled in the material world, are neither masters nor controllers.
Rather, they become subordinate to or controlled by such energy.
Analogy
Factually the Lord is eternally manifested by His internal potency or spiritual energy just like
the sun and its rays in the clear sky, but at times He creates the material energy, as the sun
creates a cloud in the clear sky. As the sun is ever increasingly unaffected by a spot of
cloud, so also the unlimited Lord is unaffected by the spot of material energy manifested at
times in the unlimited span of the Lord's rays of brahma-jyoti.
19. These gunas bind the jiva: The gunas further manifest as
matter, knowledge and activities (dravya, jnãna, kriyã),
putting the conditioned jiva under bondage.
TEXT 19
These three modes of material nature, being further manifested as matter,
knowledge and activities (dravya-jïäna-kriyäçrayäù), put the eternally
transcendental living entity (nityadä muktaà) under conditions of cause
and effect (kärya-käraëa-kartåtve) and make him responsible for such
activities.
How LE is bound?
Because they are between the internal and external potencies, the eternally transcendental
living entities are called the marginal potency of the Lord. Factually, the living entities are
not meant to be so conditioned by material energy, but due to their being affected by the
false sense of lording it over the material energy, they come under the influence of such
potency and thus become conditioned by the three modes of material nature. This external
energy of the Lord covers up the pure knowledge of the living entities eternally existing with
Him, but the covering is so constant that it appears that the conditioned soul is eternally
ignorant.
adhibhüta, adhyätma and adhidaiva actions
Such is the wonderful action of mäyä, or external energy manifested as if materially
produced. By the covering power of the material energy, the material scientist cannot look
beyond the material causes, but factually, behind the material manifestations, there
are adhibhüta, adhyätma and adhidaiva actions, which the conditioned soul in the
mode of ignorance cannot see. The adhibhüta manifestation entails repetitions of births
and deaths with old age and diseases, the adhyätma manifestation conditions the spirit
soul, and the adhidaiva manifestation is the controlling system. These are the material
manifestations of cause and effect and the sense of responsibility of the conditioned actors.
They are, after all, manifestations of the conditioned state, and the human being's freedom
from such a conditioned state is the highest perfectional attainment.
20. The jivas cannot see the Lord due to being covered by
these 3 gunas.
TEXT 20
O Brähmaëa Närada, the Superseer, the transcendent Lord, is beyond the
perception of the material senses of the living entities because of the
above-mentioned three modes of nature (etair tribhir liìgaih). But He is the
controller of everyone, including me (sarveñäà mama ceçvaraù).

How impersonalists are covered?

In the Bhagavad-gétä (7.24-25) the Lord has declared very clearly that the impersonalist,
who gives more importance to the transcendental rays of the Lord as brahma-jyoti and who
concludes that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal and only manifests a form at a
time of necessity, is less intelligent than the personalist, however much the impersonalist
may be engaged in studying the Vedänta. The fact is that such impersonalists are covered
by the above-mentioned three modes of material nature; therefore, they are unable to
approach the transcendental Personality of the Lord.

Why Lord is not approachable by everyone? (How to approach The Lord)

The Lord is not approachable by everyone because He is curtained by His yogamäyä
potency. But one should not wrongly conclude that the Lord was formerly unmanifested and
has now manifested Himself in the human form. This misconception of the formlessness of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead is due to the yogamäyä curtain of the Lord and can be
removed only by the Supreme Will, as soon as the conditioned soul surrenders unto Him.
The devotees of the Lord who are transcendental to the above-mentioned three modes of
material nature can see the all-blissful transcendental form of the Lord with their vision of
love in the attitude of pure devotional service.