Krishnas tu bhagavan svayam- 1

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In the verse SB 1.3.6 it is stated "sa eva prathamam deva". Who is

referred to as sa here? It is clear from 1.2.27-28 that it is

Vasudeva.

 

vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ

vāsudeva-parā yogā vāsudeva-

parāḥ kriyāḥ vāsudeva-paraḿ jñānaḿ

vāsudeva-paraḿ tapaḥ vāsudeva-paro

dharmo vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ

 

It is this Vasudeva who actually appears as purusha and creates this

universe (SB 1.3.4 and SB 1.3.5). So even without going to SB 1.3.28,

it is possible to establish that Vasudeva is the source of all

incarnations. That Vasudeva refers to the son of Devaki and Vasudeva

is stated by Sankara though some vaishnavas dispute that. So be it.

 

Now, if it is already established in SB 1.3.6 that Vasudeva is the

source of all incarnations, why should SB 1.3.28 re-state the fact

saying krishnas tu bhagavan svayam? One is stessing the important

points just like Chandogya Upaishad stresses tat tvam asi so many

times because it is important - a maha vakya. It is also because the

purusha lying down in the karana ocean, not incarnates as kaumaras,

narada, sages, rama, narasimha, krishna etc., but he also creates 16

material principles (SB 1.3.1). So why should it SB 1.3.28 say

krishnas tu bhagavan svayam? krishna also means existence and bliss -

Sankara quotes references for this in his sahasranama bhashya. So

this verse SB 1.3.28 state that the bhagavan (Vasudeva and His amsas)

are verily the existence. Thus He is differentiated from the 16

material principles referred to in SB 1.3.1 and bodies of humans,

animals and plants produced from these material elements (maya).