Understanding Krishna's infinite greatness through scripture, purified by knowledge and austerity, naturally awakens pure devotional love.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Bhagavad-gītā 4.10 — March 30, 1974, Bombay 740330BG-BOMBAY [47:07 Minutes] Bg-04.10_740330BG-BOMBAY Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse] vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhā man-mayā mām upāśritāḥ bahavo jñāna-tapasā pūtā mad-bhāvam āgatāḥ [Bg. 4.10] [break] [03:02] Translation: "Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me, and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me." Prabhupāda: vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhā man-mayā mām upāśritāḥ bahavo jñāna-tapasā pūtā mad-bhāvam āgatāḥ [Bg. 4.10] This is the perfection of life, mad-bhāvam.
Kṛṣṇa says, budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ. There is another version in Bhagavad-gītā: budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ. What is the beginning of the verse? Devotee: Ahaṁ sarvasya... Prabhupāda: ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ [Bg. 10.8] This is bhāva: "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is so great." When one understands greatness of Kṛṣṇa, how great He is... Because people do not understand.
They generally speak, "God is great." That is very good. At least, one accepts God is great. But how He is great and what is the extent of His greatness, if we understand, then our regard and reverence for Kṛṣṇa increases. Just like we have got some friend, but if we know the opulence of the friend, how great he is—he may be a very big man, very big business magnate or minister—if we know, then our, "Oh, you have got such a nice friend." Similarly, we should try to understand Kṛṣṇa. Janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ [Bg. 4.9].
In the previous verse it has been said, tattvataḥ. Not superficially. If we study Kṛṣṇa superficially, then I shall accept another rascal, competitor of Kṛṣṇa. Because we do not know what is Kṛṣṇa.
Mūḍhāḥ. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ [Bg. 9.11]. Therefore in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it has been described, siddhānta baliyā citte nā kara alasa ihā haite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛdha mānasa [Cc. Ādi 2.117] Siddhānta, how great Kṛṣṇa is. For example...
[sound of children crying in background] Get them out. In the Brahma-saṁhitā, the greatness of Kṛṣṇa is described: govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. If we study Brahma-saṁhitā, eko 'py asau racayituṁ jagad-aṇḍa-koṭiṁ yac-chaktir asti jagad-aṇḍa-cayā yad-antaḥ aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-sthaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs. 5.35] This is another explanation of Kṛṣṇa's greatness, that by His one plenary expansion, eko 'py asau racayitum, one plenary expansion is maintaining the whole material creation—eko 'py asau racayitum—just to create this material world. One plenary expansion.
Eko 'py asau racayituṁ jagad-aṇḍa-koṭim [Bs. 5.35]. Not only one, but millions of jagad-aṇḍa, universes. By His one plenary... In Bhagavad-gītā also it is confirmed, athavā bahunaitena kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna viṣṭabhyāham... ekāṁśena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42] Ekāṁśena: "one My plenary portion," Mahā-Viṣṇu, for creation of this material world. Ekāṁśena sthito jagat.