BHAGAVAD-GITA 9:5

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 9:5

 

na ca mat-sthani bhutani

pasya me yogam aisvaram

bhuta-bhrn na ca bhuta-stho

mamatma bhuta-bhavanah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

na--never; ca--also; mat-sthani--situated in Me; bhutani--all

creation; pasya- just see; me--My; yogam aisvaram--inconceivable

mystic power; bhuta-bhrt--the maintainer of all living entities;

na--never; ca--also; bhuta-sthah--in the cosmic manifestation;

mama--My; atma--Self; bhuta-bhavanah--the source of all

manifestations.

 

TRANSLATION

 

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My

mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities

and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic

manifestation, for My Self is the very source of creation.

 

PURPORT

 

The Lord says that everything is resting on Him (mat-sthani

sarva-bhutani). This should not be misunderstood. The Lord is not

directly concerned with the maintenance and sustenance of this

material manifestation. Sometimes we see a picture of Atlas holding

the globe on his shoulders; he seems to be very tired, holding this

great earthly planet. Such an image should not be entertained in

connection with Krsna's upholding this created universe. He says that

although everything is resting on Him, He is aloof. The planetary

systems are floating in space, and this space is the energy of the

Supreme Lord. But He is different from space. He is differently

situated. Therefore the Lord says, "Although they are situated on My

inconceivable energy, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead I am aloof

from them." This is the inconceivable opulence of the Lord.

 

In the Nirukti Vedic dictionary it is said, yujyate 'nena durghatesu

karyesu: "The Supreme Lord is performing inconceivably wonderful

pastimes, displaying His energy." His person is full of different

potent energies, and His determination is itself actual fact. In this

way the Personality of Godhead is to be understood. We may think of

doing something, but there are so many impediments, and sometimes it

is not possible to do as we like. But when Krsna wants to do

something, simply by His willing, everything is performed so perfectly

that one cannot imagine how it is being done. The Lord explains this

fact: although He is the maintainer and sustainer of the entire

material manifestation, He does not touch this material manifestation.

Simply by His supreme will, everything is created, everything is

sustained, everything is maintained, and everything is annihilated.

There is no difference between His mind and Himself (as there is a

difference between ourselves and our present material mind) because He

is absolute spirit. Simultaneously the Lord is present in everything;

yet the common man cannot understand how He is also present

personally. He is different from this material manifestation, yet

everything is resting on Him. This is explained here as yogam

aisvaram, the mystic power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.