Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.26

Krishna Dwells Everywhere in Creation, Devotion Alone Reveals His Presence

📅 November 13, 1976 📍 Vrindavan ⏱ 16 min
Devotion alone reveals Krishna's presence everywhere; knowledge and surrender to the guru make vision possible.
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Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, etc.] sarvāṇi mad-dhiṣṇyatayā bhavadbhiś carāṇi bhūtāni sutā dhruvāṇi sambhāvitavyāni pade pade vo vivikta-dṛgbhis tad u hārhaṇaṁ me [SB 5.5.26] [break] [00:52] Translation: "My dear sons, you should not envy any living entity, be he moving or nonmoving.

Knowing that I am situated in them, you should offer resects to all of them at every moment. In this way you offer respect to Me." Prabhupāda: You read the purport. Pradyumna: "In this verse the word vivikta-dṛgbhiḥ, meaning 'without envy,' is used. [break] ...living entities are the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Paramātmā feature. As confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā, aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham [Bs 5.35].

The Lord is situated in this universe as Garbhodakśayī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. He is also situated within every atom. According to the Vedic statement, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1]. The Supreme Lord is situated everywhere, and wherever He is situated is His temple.

We even offer respects to a temple from a distant place, and all living entites should similarly be offered respect. This is different from the theory of pantheism, which holds that everything is God. Everything has a relationship with God because God is situated everywhere. We should not make any particular distinction between the poor and the rich like the foolish worshipers of daridra-nārāyaṇa.

Nārāyaṇa is present in the rich as well as the poor. One should not simply think Nārāyaṇa is situated among the poor. He is everywhere. An advanced devotee will offer respects to everyone—even to cats and dogs. vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ [Bg 5.18] " 'The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater or outcaste.' [Bg 5.18] This sama-darśinaḥ, equal vision, should not be mistaken to mean that the individual is the same as the Supreme Lord.

They are always distinct. Every individual person is different from the Supreme Lord. It is a mistake to equate the individual living entity with the Supreme Lord on the plea of vivikta-dṛk, sama-dṛk. The Lord is always in an exalted position, even though He agrees to live everywhere. Śrīla Madhvācārya, quoting Padma Purāṇa, states, vivikta-dṛṣṭi-jīvānāṁ dhiṣṇyatayā parameśvarasya bheda-dṛṣṭiḥ: 'One who has clear vision and who is devoid of envy can see that the Supreme Lord is separate from all living entities, although He is sitauted in every living entity.' Madhvācārya further quotes from Padma Purāṇa, upapādayet parātmānaṁ jīvebhyo yaḥ pade pade bhedenaiva na caitasmāt priyo viṣṇos tu kaścana " 'One who sees the living entity and the Supreme Lord as always distinct is very dear to the Lord.' Padma Purāṇa also states, yo hareś caiva jīvānāṁ bheda-vaktā hareḥ priyaḥ: 'One who preaches that the living entities are separate from the Supreme Lord is very dear to Lord Viṣṇu.' " Prabhupāda: sarvāṇi mad-dhiṣṇyatayā bhavadbhiś carāṇi bhūtāni sutā dhruvāṇi sambhāvitavyāni pade pade vo vivikta-dṛgbhis tad u hārhaṇaṁ me [SB 5.5.26] So, premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti [Bs 5.38].

The atheist class men, they say that "I do not see God. How can I believe there is God?" But the advanced devotee, he sees every moment God's presence. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva [Bs 5.38]. He doesn't say that "I do not see God." Santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti yaṁ śyāmasundaram.

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