Lecture – Giriraj Swami – SB 10.3.14 – Praising God’s Activities

Classes and Bhajans
Classes and Bhajans
Lecture - Giriraj Swami - SB 10.3.14 - Praising God's Activities
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Lecture - Giriraj Swami - SB 10.3.14 - Praising God's Activities

Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 3, Text 14 titled “Praising God’s Activities” by Giriraj Swami.

Dallas, TX
2011-06-03

TRANSLATION

My Lord, You are the same person who in the beginning created this material world by His personal external energy. After the creation of this world of three gunas [sattva, rajas and tamas], You appear to have entered it, although in fact You have not.

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita (7.4) the Supreme Personality of Godhead clearly explains:

This material world of three modes of nature — sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna — is a composition of earth, water, fire, air, mind, intelligence and false ego, all of which are energies coming from Krishna, yet Krishna, being always transcendental, is aloof from this material world. Those who are not in pure knowledge think that Krishna is a product of matter and that His body is material like ours (avajananti mam mudhah). In fact, however, Krishna is always aloof from this material world.

In the Vedic literature, we find the creation described in relationship to Maha-Vishnu. As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.35):

“I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, the original Personality of Godhead. By His partial plenary expansion as Maha-Vishnu, He enters into material nature. Then He enters every universe as Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and He enters all the elements, including every atom of matter, as Kshirodakasayi Vishnu. Such manifestations of cosmic creation are innumerable, both in the universes and in the individual atoms.” Govinda is partially exhibited as antaryami, the Supersoul, who enters this material world (andantara-stha) and who is also within the atom. The Brahma-samhita (5.48) further says:

This verse describes Maha-Vishnu as a plenary expansion of Krishna. Maha-Vishnu lies on the Causal Ocean, and when He exhales, millions of brahmandas, or universes, come from the pores of His body. Then, when Maha-Vishnu inhales, all these brahmandas disappear. Thus the millions of brahmandas controlled by the Brahmas and other demigods come and go in this material world through the breathing of Maha-Vishnu.

Foolish persons think that when Krishna appears as the son of Vasudeva, He is limited like an ordinary child. But Vasudeva was aware that although the Lord had appeared as his son, the Lord had not entered Devaki’s womb and then come out. Rather, the Lord was always there. The Supreme Lord is all-pervading, present within and without. pravishta iva bhavyase: He only seemed to have entered the womb of Devaki and to have now appeared as Vasudeva’s child. The expression of this knowledge by Vasudeva indicates that Vasudeva knew how these events took place. Vasudeva was certainly a devotee of the Lord in full knowledge, and we must learn from devotees like him. Bhagavad-gita (4.34) therefore recommends:

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” Vasudeva begot the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yet he was in full knowledge of how the Supreme Lord appears and disappears. He was therefore tattva-darsi, a seer of the truth, because he personally saw how the Supreme Absolute Truth appeared as his son. Vasudeva was not in ignorance, thinking that because the Supreme Godhead had appeared as his son, the Lord had become limited. The Lord is unlimitedly existing and all-pervading, inside and outside. Thus there is no question of His appearance or disappearance.