Sri Bhagavaf-sandarbhaAn Essay on BhagavanTabIe of confenfslialman, Paiamaima and llagavan, Anucclcdas 1-9Tlc Dcsciipiion ol llagavan in Siimad-llagavaiam 2.9.9-19 Anucclcdas 10-11Tlc Loid's Poicncics, Anucclcdas 12-1STlc Jivas, ilc Scnscs, and llagavan, Anucclcdas 19-20llagavan is Always in Iull Coniiol ol His Poicncics, Anucclcdas 21-22llagavan is Tiansccndcnial and llisslul, Spiiiiual Poicncics, ilc Maya Poicncy, Anucclcda 23llagavan's Qualiiics and Opulcnccs, Anucclcdas 2+-29Tlc Loid's Ioim, Anucclcdas 30-31llagavan is loil All-pcivading and Localiscd, Anucclcdas 32-39llagavan Appcais in Many Ioims, Anucclcdas +0-+3llagavan is ilc All-pcivading Supcisoul, Anucclcda ++llagavan's Ioim is Tiansccndcnial, Anucclcda +5llagavan Rcvcals Himscll, Anucclcda +6llagavan's Ioims and Aciiviiics aic Spiiiiual, Anucclcda +7llagavan's Limbs and Scnscs, Anucclcdas +S-+9Tlc Idca ilai ilc Supicmc Has No Namc oi Ioim is Rcluicd.Tlc Loid's Ioim is Spiiiiual, Anucclcdas 50-57Kisna is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Anucclcdas 5S-59llagavan's Oinamcnis and Paiaplcinalia, Anucclcda 60Tlc Spiiiiual Woild, Anucclcdas 61-77Tlc Spiiiiual Woild, Anucclcda 7STlc Ioui Kumaias Scc Loid Naiayana, Anucclcda 79All Goals ol Lilc aic Picscni in llagavan, Anucclcda S0lialman and llagavan aic ilc Samc Supicmc, Anucclcda S1llagavan, ilc Dcvoiccs, Dcvoiional Scivicc and Libciaiion, Anucclcdas S2-S6llagavan is ilc Uliimaic and Impcisonal lialma is Suboidinaic Anucclcdas S7-92llagavan is ilc Oiigin ol lialma, Anucclcda 93lialman is a Namc ol llagavan, llagavan is lciici Tlanlialma, Tlc Dcvoiccs aic lciici Tlan ilc Impcisonalisis,Anucclcda 9+Siimad llagavaiam and Dcvoiional Scivicc, Anucclcda 95Siimad llagavaiam 2.9.30-33, Anucclcdas 96-97Tlc Vcdas Dcsciibc llagavan, Anucclcdas 9S-99llagavan Can lc dcsciibcd, Tlc Piaycis ol ilc PcisonilicdVcdas, Anucclcdas 100-102llagavan's Poicncics, Lalsmi-dcvi, Hladini-salii, Visuddla-saiiva, llagavan Rcvcals Himscll by His own wisl, Anucclcda 103Lalsmi-dcvi, Anucclcda 10+llagavan Cannoi bc Know by Maiciial mcans, Anucclcda 105llagavan Can bc Known by Dcvoiional Scivicc, Anucclcda 106InfroducfionTlc sccond sandaibla, callcd llagavai-sandaibla, diaws a disiinciion bciwccn impcisonal lialman and localiscd Paiamaima, and dcsciibcs ilc spiiiiual woild and ilc dominaiion ol ilc modc ol goodncss dcvoid ol coniaminaiion by ilc oilci iwo maiciial modcs. In oilci woids, ilcic is a vivid dcsciipiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial posiiion lnown a suddla-saiiva. Maiciial goodncss is api io bc coniaminaicd by ilc oilci iwo maiciial qualiiics - ignoiancc and passion - bui wlcn onc is siiuaicd in ilc suddla-saiiva-posiiion, ilcic is no clancc loi sucl coniaminaiion. Ii is a spiiiiual plailoim ol puic goodncss. Tlc poicncy ol ilc Supicmc Loid, and ilc living cniiiy, is also dcsciibcd, and ilcic is a dcsciipiion ol ilc inconccivablc cncigics and vaiiciics ol cncigics ol ilc Loid. Tlc poicncics ol ilc Loid aic dividcd inio caicgoiics - inicinal, cxicinal, pcisonal, maiginal, and so loiil. Tlcic aic also discussions ol ilc cicinaliiy ol Dciiy woislip, ilc omnipoicncc ol ilc Dciiy, His all-pcivasivcncss, Hi giving slclici io cvciyonc, His subilc and gioss poicncics, His pcisonal manilcsiaiions, Hi cxpicssion ol loim, qualiiics, and pasiimcs, His iiansccndcnial posiiion and His complcic loim. Ii is also siaicd ilai cvciyiling pciiaining io ilc Absoluic las ilc samc poicncy and ilai ilc spiiiiual woild, ilc associaics in ilc spiiiiual woild, and ilc ilicclold cncigics ol ilc Loid in ilc spiiiiual woild aic all iiansccndcnial. Tlcic aic luiilci discussions conccining ilc dillcicncc bciwccn ilc impcisonal lialman and ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc lullncss ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc objcciivc ol all Vcdic lnowlcdgc, ilc pcisonal poicncics ol ilc Loid, and ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as ilc oiiginal auiloi ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc.His Divinc Giacc A.C. llaliivcdania Swami Piablupada Anuccheda 1In ilc picvious (Taiiva) Sandaibla I lavc dcsciibcd in a gcncial way ilc naiuic ol ilc non-dual Absoluic Tiuil and ilc cicinal disiinciion bciwccn ilai Absoluic and ilc individual living cniiiics, wlo aic naiuially ilc scivanis and woislippcis ol ilc Absoluic. Now I slall dcsciibc somc ol ilc vaiicgaicd lcaiuics ol ilc Absoluic. Tlc Absoluic is lnown in ilicc lcaiuics, callcd lialman, Paiamaima and llagavan. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.11):Lcaincd iiansccndcnialisis wlo lnow ilc Absoluic Tiuil call ilis non dual subsiancc lialman, Paiamaima oi llagavan.`Anuccheda 21 In ilis and oilci vciscs ol ilc llagavaiam, and in oilci Vcdic liiciaiuics as wcll, ilc Absoluic Tiuil is indicaicd by ilc usc ol ilcsc ilicc woids. In somc placcs ilc Absoluic is callcd lialman, in oilci placcs Paiamaima, and in oilci placcs llagavan. In ilc dcsciipiion ol Siila Vyasa's pciccpiion, in spiiiiual iiancc, ol ilc Supicmc (dcsciibcd in ilc Taiiva Sandaibla), ilc individual living cniiiics (jivas) aic clcaily dcsciibcd as dillcicni liom ilc Supicmc. Ioi ilis icason no onc slould claim ilai ilc jivas aic idcniical wiil ilc Supicmc, and no onc can aiiilicially add ilc pliasc jiva iii ca sabdyaic` (and ilc Supicmc is also lnown as jiva) io ilis vcisc (1.2.11) ol Siimad llagavaiam.Alilougl ilc llagavaiam givcs claboiaic cxplanaiions ol lialman and llagavan liisi, and only alici somc wlilc dcsciibcs ai lcngil ilc lcaiuic ol Paiamaima, ncvciilclcss ilis vcisc (1.2.11) givcs ilc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc in ilc scqucncc lialman, Paiamaima, llagavan. Tlis scqucncc slows ilc iclaiivc impoiiancc ol ilc ilicc lcaiuics, ilc mosi impoiiani givcn lasi.2 Tlc non-dual Supicmc, wlosc spiiiiual bliss is wiiloui iniciiupiion is undcisiood in ilc ilicc lcaiuics ol lialman, Paiamaima and llagavan. I slall now dcsciibc ilc lcaiuic callcd lialman:Tlosc iiansccndcnialisis wlo icalisc ilc lialman lcaiuic ol ilc Loid cxpciicncc so mucl spiiiiual lappincss by ilis icalisaiion ilai ilcy spii in conicmpi on ilc lappincss aiiaincd by ilc dcmigod lialma, wlai io spcal ol ilc liiilc lappincss availablc io ilc oilci insignilicani cicaiuics in ilc maiciial woild. ly iigidly lollowing ilc piaciiccs ol spiiiiual lilc (sadlana), ilcsc iiansccndcnialisis aic ablc io undcisiand ilai ilc individual living cniiiy is spiiiiual and lis naiuic is lilc ilai ol ilc Supicmc. Tlcsc pcisons lowcvci, icmain unablc io undcisiand ilc vaiiciy ol spiiiiual loim and poicncics in ilc iiansccndcnial woild, and nciilci can ilcy undcisiand ilc dillcicncc bciwccn ilc poicncics (salii) and Supicmc Loid wlo is ilc masici ol all poicncics (saliiman). Tlcii limiicd lnowlcdgc ol ilc muiual spiiiiual naiuic ol ilc individual living cniiiics and ilc Supicmc is lnown as ilc lialman undcisianding ol ilc Loid.3 Tlc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil may bc cxplaincd in ilc lollowing way:Tlc Supicmc is in somc ways dillcicni liom His poicncics, and Hc is ilc Supicmc Slclici upon wlicl all His iiansccndcnial poicncics icsi. Tlc dcvoiccs diiccily pciccivc wiil ilcii scnscs ilc pcisonal loim ol ilc Loid cvciywlcic, wiilin and wiiloui cvciyiling, and in ilis way ilc dcvoiccs cxpciicncc inicnsc iiansccndcnial bliss. Tlis icalisaiion ol ilc dcvoiccs, ilai ilc poicncics (salii) and ilc Supicmc Loid wlo is ilc masici ol all poicncics (saliiman) aic dillcicni, is lnown as ilc llagavan undcisianding ol ilc Loid.+ Tlcsc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc Loid aic dcsciibcd in ilc samc way in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (5.12.11), wlcic Jada llaiaia says:Wlai, ilcn, is ilc uliimaic iiuil' Tlc answci is ilai non dual lnowlcdgc is ilc uliimaic iiuil. Ii is dcvoid ol ilc coniaminaiion ol maiciial qualiiics. Ii givcs us libciaiion. Ii is ilc onc wiiloui a sccond, all-pcivading and bcyond imaginaiion. Tlc liisi icalisaiion ol ilai lnowlcdgc is lialman. Tlcn Paiamaima, ilc Supcisoul, is icaliscd by ilc yogis wlo iiy io scc Him wiiloui giicvancc. Tlis is ilc sccond siagc ol icalisaiion. Iinally, lull icalisaiion ol ilc samc supicmc lnowlcdgc is icaliscd in ilc Supicmc Pcison (llagavan). All lcaincd sclolais dcsciibc ilc Supicmc Pcison as Vasudcva, ilc causc ol lialman, Paiamaima and oilci.`5 Tlc samc dcsciipiion is lound in ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam +.11.30) wlcic Manu says io Malaiaja Dliuva:Rcgaining youi naiuial posiiion and icndciing scivicc unio ilc Supicmc Loid (llagavan), wlo is ilc all-powcilul icscivoii ol all plcasuic and wlo livcs in all living cniiiics as ilc Supcisoul, you will vciy soon loigci ilc illusoiy undcisianding ol 'I' and 'my'.`Anuccheda 31 In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'blagavan' is modilicd by ilc adjcciival compounds 'ananda-maiic' (ilc icscivoii ol all plcasuic) and 'upapanna-amasiia-saliau' (ilc masici ol all poicncics). Wlcn ilc Supicmc complcicly icvcals Himscll Hc is lnown as llagavan, and in compaiison io ilis ilc lialman lcaiuic, wlcic ilc iiansccndcnial loim ol ilc Loid is noi manilcsicd, is only a paiiial manilcsiaiion ol ilc Supicmc. Tlis will bc discusscd in gicai dciail laici on in ilis bool. Now lci us considci ilc dcliniiion ol ilc woid 'llagavan' givcn in ilc lollowing vciscs ol Visnu Puiana (6.5.66-69):2 Tlc impcisonal lialman lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc is unmanilcsicd, licc liom old-agc, inconccivablc, biiillcss, licc liom dccay and diminuiion, indcsciibablc, loimlcss, wiiloui lands, lcci, oi oilci limbs, all-powcilul, all-pcivading, cicinal, ilc oiigin ol all maiciial clcmcni, wiiloui any causc, picscni in cvciyiling, alilougl noiling is siiuaicd in ii, ilc souicc ol ilc maiciial cosmos, ilc objcci ol vision loi ilc dcmigods, and ilc objcci ol mcdiiaiion loi ilcy wlo aspiic alici libciaiion. Tlc impcisonal lialman I ilc supicmcly subilc spiiiiual cllulgcncc and abodc ol Loid Visnu, wlicl I dcsciibcd in ilc maniias ol ilc Vcdas. lialman is ilc cllulgcncc ol ilc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Loid, and ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul (Paiamaima) I ilc paiiial manilcsiaiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial loim ol ilc impciislablc Supicmc Pcison, Sii llagavan.`3 Tlc Visnu Puiana luiilci cxplains (5.6.73-75):O sagc, ilc woid llagavan may bc cxplaincd in ilc lollowing way: ilc syllablc 'bla' may bc undcisiood io mcan 'blaiia', oi 'samblaiia', ilc mainiainci and nouiislci ol ilc dcvoiccs, and ilc syllablc 'ga' may bc undcisiood io mcan 'gamayiia', ilc lcadci ol ilc dcvoiccs, oi ilc oiiginal cicaioi ol ilc good qualiiics picscni in ilc dcvoiccs.+ Tlc woid 'blaga' also mcans 'opulcnccs'. Tlcic aic six opulcnccs: wcalil, siicngil, lamc, bcauiy, lnowlcdgc, and icnunciaiion. llagavan` mcans ilc pcison wlo posscsscs all ilcsc opulcnccs in lull.5 In ilc woid 'blagavan', ilc syllablc 'va' siands loi ilc vcib 'vas' io icsidc. lccausc all maiciial clcmcnis and all living cniiiics icsi wiilin ilc Supicmc Loid, and bccausc Hc is picscni in ilc lcaii ol all condiiioncd souls, Hc is addicsscd by ilc syllablc 'va'.`6 Ii is also said (Visnu Puiana 6.5.79);Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad posscsscs all siicngil, bcauiy, wcalil, lamc, lnowlcdgc, and icnunciaiion, and ilcicloic Hc is lnown as 'blagavan'. Hc is licc liom all laulis.`7 Now lci us considci ilis dcsciipiion ol llagavan liom ilc Visnu Puiana. In ilc liisi loui vciscs (quoicd in icxi 2), ilc woid 'bialma' may bc ialcn as an adjcciivc ('gicai'), modilying 'visnol paiamam padam' (supicmc naiuic ol Loid Visnu). Inicipicicd in ilis way ilc woids 'viblum' (all-powcilul) and 'saiva-gaiam' (all-pcivading) dcsciibc Loid llagavan's naiuic, wlicl I lull ol all opulcnccs (aisvaiyasya samagiasya). Tlc adjcciivcs 'aiupam' (loimlcss) and 'pani-padady-asamyuiam' (wiiloui lands, lcci, oi oilci limbs) slould bc undcisiood io mcan ilai ilc Supicmc Loid llagavan las no maiciial loim, loi His loim is pcilccily spiiiiual, and no maiciial lands, lcci, oi oilci limbs, loi His limbs aic noi madc ol maiici.S In ilis passagc ilc woid 'viblum' mcans 'lull ol all powcis and opulcnccs', 'vyapi' mcans 'all-pcivading', and 'avyapyam' mcans 'noiling clsc can cnici Him and bc pcivading wiilin Him.` Tlc woid 'blagavan' diiccily indicaics ilc Absoluic Tiuil and is noi in any way an indiicci oi incomplcic dcsciipiion ol Him. A cciiain iivci may bc diiccily indicaicd by ilc namc 'ganga', alilougl ilis iivci is only indiiccily indicaicd by ilc woid 'iivcibanl'. In ilc samc way ilc woid 'blagavan' diiccily indicaics ilc absoluic Tiuil and 'bialman' indiiccily iclcis io ilc Absoluic Tiuil.9 Tlc Niiulia diciionaiy bcgins ii's lisi ol dcliniiions by announcing (1.2.1) Now wc slall givc synonym loi somc dilliculi woids'. In ilc samc way wc slall now cxplain somc ol ilc woids quoicd in ilc dcliniiion ol ilc woid llagavan. In ilai cxplanaiion ilc syllablc 'bla' was dcsciibcd as sianding loi ilc woid 'blaiia'. llaiia` mcans 'ilc nouiislci, mainiainci and csiablislci ol ilc dcvoiccs.` In ilc samc way ilc syllablc 'ga' siands loi ilc woid 'gamayiia', wlicl mcans Hc wlo cicaics all linds ol auspicious qualiiics wiilin His dcvoiccs', oi Hc wlo gianis puic lovc ol Godlcad, wlicl is ilc aciual icsuli ol dcvoiional scivicc', oi 'Hc wlo biings His dcvoiccs io His own iiansccndcnial planci'. Tlc woids 'blaiia' and 'gamayiia', slould noi bc inicipicicd lcic io mcan 'ilc cicaioi and mainiainci ol ilc univcisc.` In ilis conicxi ilcsc woids aic uscd io cxpicss ilc iclaiionslip bciwccn ilc Supicmc Loid and His dcvoiccs. Tlis is ilc opinion ol ilc disciplic succcssion ol Vaisnava acaiyas.10 Synonyms loi ilc ncxi vcisc liom ilc Visnu Puiana (quoicd in Tcxi +) lollow: Aisvaiya` mcans abiliiy io coniiol oilcis`, samagia` mcans in all icspccis`, viiya` mcans ilc poicncy ol Vcdic maniias clanicd by gicai sagcs`, yasal` mcans lamc ol good qualiiics in iclaiion io body, mind and woids`, Sii` mcans all linds ol opulcncc and good loiiunc`, jnana` mcans omniscicncc`, vaiiagya` mcans non-aiiaclmcni io maiciial ilings`, and 'ingana` mcans namc`.11 Tlc woid blagavan` may bc undcisiood io mcan Hc wlo posscsscs ('vai' is ilc allix lnown as 'maiup'), ilc qualiiics picviously dcsciibcd by ilc syllablc 'bla', 'ga' and 'va' (bla+ga+van). Tlc 'a' in ilc iliid qualiiy (va), was clidcd, cnabling ilc iwo v's io join and bccomc a singlc lciici. In ilis way ilc woid llagavavan` bccomcs llagavan). llagavan` is ilcicloic ilc posscssoi ol 'bla', 'ga' and 'va'.12 In ilc ncxi vcisc (Tcxi 6) ilc six opulcnccs posscsscd by llagavan aic also dcsciibcd. In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'jnana' mcans 'lnowlcdgc', wlicl is ilc domain ol ilc mind and iniclligcncc, 'salii' mcan 'ilc powci ol ilc scnscs', 'balam' mcans 'ilc siicngil ol ilc body', 'icjal' mcans 'bcauiy', and 'ascsaial' mcans 'complcicly' ('aisvaiya' and 'viiya' lavc bccn dcsciibcd in ilc picvious icxis). Tlc posscssoi ol all ilcsc in lull ('van') is lnown as llagavan. Tlc Supicmc is manilcsi in ilicc lcaiuics: lialman, Paiamaima, and llagavan (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.11). Tlc llagavan lcaiuic is ilc complcic manilcsiaiion ol ilc Supicmc, and ilc oilci iwo aic paiiial icvclaiions ol ilc aciual naiuic ol ilc Supicmc.Anuccheda +1 Tlc naiuic ol lialman and llagavan aic icvcalcd in ilc lollowing qucsiionposcd by Malaiaja Nimi, and ii's answci by Pippalayana Muni (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.3+ and 35):King Nimi inquiicd: Plcasc cxplain io mc ilc iiansccndcnial siiuaiion ol ilc Supicmc Loid, Naiayana, wlo is Himscll ilc Absoluic Tiuil and ilc Supcisoul ol cvciyonc. You can cxplain ilis io mc, bccausc you aic all mosi cxpcii in iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc.`2 Sii Pippalayana aid: Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc causc ol ilc cicaiion, mainicnancc and dcsiiuciion ol ilis univcisc, yci Hc las no piioi causc. Hc pcivadcs ilc vaiious siaics ol walclulncss, dicaming and unconscious dccp slccp and also cxisis bcyond ilcm. ly cniciing ilc body ol cvciy living bcing as ilc Supcisoul, Hc cnlivcns ilc body, scnscs, lilc aiis and mcnial aciiviiics and ilus all ilc subilc and gioss oigan ol ilc body bcgin ilcii lunciions. My dcai King, lnow ilai Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io bc ilc Supicmc.`3 Malaiaja Nimi's qucsiion may bc cxplaincd in ilc lollowing way: Tlc woid 'naiayanablidlanasya' mcans 'ol llagavan, wlo is lnown as Naiayana' and 'nisila' mcans 'ilc iiansccndcnial siiuaiion'. Tlc Loid's lcaiuics as lialman and Paiamaima as mcniioncd in ilis vcisc aic His appcaiancc spccilically wiilin ilc maiciial woild. Hc appcais as llagavan in ilc spiiiiual woild, and His appcaiancc as lialman and Paiamaima is limiicd, loi ilc mosi paii, io ilc maiciial woild. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.15.16):Naiayana, wlo is lnown as llagavan, appcais in ilc spiiiiual woild (iuiiya), unlilc oilci manilcsiaiions ol ilc Loid ilai appcai in ilc maiciial woild.`+ In ilis vcisc (11.3.35), in answci io King Nimi's qucsiion, Pippalayana Muni spcals vcisc 11.3.35. Hc says ilcic ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc 'causc ol ilc cicaiion, mainicnancc and dcsiiuciion ol ilis univcisc (siliii-adi-lciu) and Hc las no piioi causc (alciu). Hc cnicis ilc body ol ilc living cniiiy as ilc Supcisoul and cnlivcns ilc body, scnscs, lilc-aiis, and mcnial aciiviiics, and ilus all ilc subilc and gioss oigans ol ilc body bcgin ilcii lunciions (dclcndiiyasu-lidayani caianii ycna sanjiviiani).In lis answci Pippalayana says: Plcasc lnow ilai Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo appcais in ilc loim ol Naiayana and oilci loims, io bc ilc Supicmc (avcli paiam).Tlis cxplanaiions clcaily dcsciibcs ilc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc, loi ilc lialman lcaiuic las a dillcicni dcsciipiion. Tlc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc (lialman, Paiamaima and llagavan) lavc dillcicni namcs and ilcy appcai in dillcicni ways io ilcii woislippcis. Lacl is disiinci liom ilc oilcis. lialman is dillcicni liom Paiamaima and Paiamaima is dillcicni liom llagavan. Pippalayana Muni answcicd ilc qucsiion ol King Nimi by dcsciibing ilc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc.5 Tlc woid 'alciu' may also bc inicipicicd io mcan 'lccausc ilc Supicmc Loid in His llagavan lcaiuic always icmains in ilc spiiiiual woild wiil His iiansccndcnial pasiimc poicncy, Hc icmains alool liom ilc aciiviiics ol maiciial cicaiion.' llagavan appcais in ilc loim ol His paiiial cxpansion, Paiamaima, wlo ilcn cicaics ilc loims ol ilc condiiioncd souls (wlo aic ilc Loid's paiis and paiccls) and ilc maiciial cncigics. Ii is ilc Paiamaima wlo 'cnicis ilc body ol cvciy living cniiiy, and cnlivcns ilc body, scnscs, lilc-aiis and mcnial aciiviiics.' Tlc pliasc 'avcli paiam' may ilcn bc inicipicicd io mcan 'Plcasc lnow ilai ilis is ilc Paiamaima lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc.'6 Tlc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc aic mcniioncd by Vaiunadcva in ilc lollowing piayci io Sii Kisna (Siimad llagavaiam 10.2S.7):I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilc Supicmc Loid, wlo appcais in ilicc lcaiuics as llagavan, Paiamaima, and lialman.`In commcniing on ilis vcisc, Siidlaia Svami said:Tlc woid 'paiamaimanc' in ilis vcisc mcans 'ilc coniiollci ol living cniiiics.'`Tlc Paiamaima lcaiuic ol ilc Loid is ilcn ilc consiani companion ol ilc condiiioncd souls, bui Hc I always ilcii supciioi, and ilcicloic Hc is callcd 'paiamaima', oi 'ilc Supicmc Soul'. In ilc vcisc liom ilc Llcvcnil Canio (11.3.35) ilc lialman lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:Hc pcivadcs ilc vaiious siaics ol walclulncss, dicaming and unconscious dccp slccp, and also cxisis bcyond ilcm.`Tlc woid 'ca' (and) is signilicani in ilis vcisc, loi ii disiinguislcs lialman liom ilc individual living cniiiics (Tlcic aic ilc individual living cniiiics and ilcic is also ilc lialman`). In ilcsc ways in ilis vcisc (11.3.35) ii is said: Plcasc undcisiand ilc llagavan, Paiamaima and lialman lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc Loid.` Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Naiada Muni.Anuccheda 51 Tlc lollowing ilicc vciscs ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.15.15-17) dcsciibc ilc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Absoluic (lialman, Paiamaima and llagavan) in conncciion wiil ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc aiiainmcni ol mysiic yoga powcis. Tlc llagavaiam cxplains:Onc wlo conccniiaics lis consciousncss in Visnu, ilc Supcisoul, ilc piimc movci and Supicmc Loid ol ilc cxicinal cncigy consisiing ol ilc ilicc modcs, obiains ilc mysiic pcilcciion ol coniiolling oilci condiiion souls, ilcii maiciial bodics and bodily dcsignaiions.2 Tlc yogi wlo placcs lis mind in My loim ol Naiayana, lnown as ilc louiil lacioi, lull ol all opulcnccs, bccomcs cndowcd wiil My naiuic and ilus obiains ilc mysiic pcilcciion callcd vasiia.`3 Onc wlo lixcs ilc puic mind in Mc in My manilcsiaiion as ilc impcisonal lialman obiains ilc gicaicsi lappincss, wlcicin all ol lis dcsiics aic complcicly lullillcd.`+ Siidlaia Svami cxplains ilcsc vciscs in ilc lollowing way:Ol ilcsc ilicc vciscs ilc liisi (quoicd in Tcxi 7) dcsciibcs ilc Paiamaima lcaiuic ol ilc Loid. In ilai vcisc ilc woid iiy-adlisvaic' mcans 'ilc supicmc coniiollci ol maya`, wlicl consisi ol ilicc modcs ol naiuic', and ilc woid 'lala-vigialc' mcans 'ilc Supcisoul wlo pciccivcs cvciyiling'.Tlc sccond ol ilcsc vciscs (quoicd in Tcxi S) dcsciibcs ilc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Loid. In ilis vcisc llagavan I dcsciibcd as 'iuiiyallyc' (Hc wlo is lnown as ilc louiil lacioi). Tlc mcaning ol ilis woid is givcn in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Vcdic liiciaiuic: Wiilin ilc maiciial woild ilc Supicmc Loid appcais in ilicc loims Kaianodalasayi Visnu, Gaiblodalasayi Visnu, and Ksiiodalasayi Visnu. Tlc oiiginal loim ol ilc Loid is dillcicni liom ilcsc ilicc loims, and ilcicloic Hc is lnown as iuiiya, ilc louiil loim ol ilc Loid.`Tlis compound woid 'blagavac-clabda-sabdiic' is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Visnu Puiana (6.5.7+): 'Tlcic aic six opulcnccs: wcalil, siicngil, lamc, bcauiy, lnowlcdgc and icnunciaiion. llagavan mcans ilc pcison wlo posscsscs all ilcsc opulcnccs in lull.`Anuccheda 61 Tlc vicw lcld by somc ilai Impcisonal lialman is ilc uliimaic lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc will bc discusscd in ilc Tliid (Paiamaima) Sandaibla. In ilai Sandaibla wc will quoic ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.6) wlicl ilc impcisonalisis icpcai io subsianiiaic ilcii posiiion:2 O unlimiicd Loid, only pcisons wlo lavc clcanscd ilcii lcaiis ol coniaminaiion aic ablc io undcisiand ilc gloiics ol Youi iiansccndcnial loim. lccausc You do noi undcigo any maiciial iiansloimaiion, bccausc You lavc no maiciial loim and bccausc You aic scll-manilcsi, unlcss You cloosc io icvcal Youiscll io somconc, ilcic is no oilci mcans io undcisiand You.`3 Tlis vcisc slould bc undcisiood in ilc lollowing way:O Loid (bluman), alilougl ii is vciy dilliculi io undcisiand wlcilci Youi uliimaic lcaiuic is lialman oi llagavan, ncvciilclcss (iailapi), ii is clcai ilai ilc unlimiicd qualiiics ol Youi own iiansccndcnial loim aic now liddcn (agunasya).`Tlc woid 'malima' in ilis vcisc mcans 'gicaincss'. Wc may noic in ilis conncciion ilai ilc woid 'lialman' mcans 'ilc gicai'. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Siuii-sasiia:Wlai is ilc mcaning ol ilc woid lialman' lialman mcans Hc wlosc gicaincss is cxpandcd wiiloui limii (bimlaii), oi Hc wlo causcs His dcvoiccs io bccomc gicai (bimlayaii).`+ In ilis vcisc lialma says:O Loid, only pcisons wlo lavc clcanscd ilcii lcaiis ol coniaminaiion (amalaniaiaimablil) aic ablc io undcisiand (vibodlum ailaii) Youi gloiics (malima).`Onc may asl: Wly aic only ilc puic-lcaiicd ablc io undcisiand ilc Loid' To ilis qucsiion ilc answci is givcn:O Loid, bccausc You aic scll-manilcsi (svanublavai), unlcss You cloosc io icvcal Youiscll io somconc, ilcic is no oilci mcans io undcisiand You.`5 Ai ilis poini somconc may objcci: Accoiding io oui pciccpiion all gioss and subilc bodics aic subjcci io vaiious linds ol maiciial iiansloimaiions (sucl as biiil, giowil, old-agc, and dcail). Ioi ilis icason wc may assumc ilai ilc loim ol Sii Kisna is also subjcci io ilcsc maiciial iiansloimaiion.`In oidci io answci ilis objcciion, lialma uscs ilc woid 'aviliiyai', wlicl mcans 'bccausc Youi loim docs noi undcigo any maiciial iiansloimaiions.`6 Ai ilis poini somconc may iaisc ilc lollowing objcciion: All loims wlicl wc lavc pciccivcd aic maiciial in naiuic, and ilcicloic wc considci ilai ilc loim ol Sii Kisna, wlicl is pciccivablc by ilc scnscs, musi also bc maiciial.`In oidci io answci ilis objcciion, lialma uscs ilc woid 'aiupaial' (ilc loim ol Sii Kisna is noi maiciial).7 Ai ilis poini Loid Kisna may posc ilc lollowing qucsiion io lialma: How can My iiansccndcnial loim bccomc manilcsi bcloic ilc living cniiiics'`In oidci io answci ilis qucsiion, lialma says: ananya-bodlyaimaiaya (You can bc undcisiood only by dcvoiional scivicc).` Alilougl no onc las, by lis own mciii, ilc abiliiy io undcisiand Kisna, il onc woislips Him by Pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc, ilc Loid voluniaiily appcais bcloic ilai dcvoicc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc liom Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.12 ilc vcisc immcdiaicly lollowing ilc dcsciipiion ol lialman, Paiamaima and llagavan) wlcic Suia Gosvami says:S Tlc sciiously inquisiiivc siudcni oi sagc, wcll cquippcd wiil lnowlcdgc and dciaclmcni, icaliscs ilai Absoluic Tiuil by icndciing dcvoiional scivicc in icims ol wlai lc las lcaid liom ilc Vcdania-siuii.`9 Tlis is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing vcisc liom Siimad llagavaiam (S.2+.3S) wlcic Loid Maisya insiiucis Malaiaja Saiyaviaia in ilc lollowing woid:You will bc iloiouglly adviscd and lavouicd by Mc, and bccausc ol youi inquiiics, cvciyiling aboui My gloiics, wlicl aic lnown as paiam bialma, will bc manilcsi wiilin youi lcaii. Tlus you will lnow cvciyiling aboui Mc.`Anuccheda 71 Tlc ilicc aspccis ol lialman, Paiamaima and llagavan aic also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.7.+7):Wlai I icaliscd as ilc Absoluic lialman I lull ol unlimiicd bliss wiiloui giicl. Tlai I cciiainly ilc uliimaic plasc ol ilc supicmc cnjoyci, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (llagavan). Hc is cicinally void ol all disiuibanccs and lcailcss. Hc I complcic consciousncss as opposcd io maiici. Unconiaminaicd and wiiloui disiinciions, Hc is ilc piimcval causc (Paiamaima) ol all causcs and cllccis, in wlom ilcic is no saciilicc loi liuiiivc aciiviiics and in wlom ilc illusoiy cncigy docs noi siand.`2 lccausc ilc Absoluic Tiuil I ilc gicaicsi (biiiama) Hc is lnown as lialman (bialmcii yad vidul). lialman and llagavan boil iclci io ilc samc Supicmc Tiuil (paiamasya pumso blagavaial padam), and ilcicloic ilcy aic noi dillcicni liom cacl oilci. llagavan is, lowcvci, ilc oiiginal lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc and lialman is manilcsicd ai a laici iimc liom ilc loim ol llagavan, wlo I ilc icscivoii in wlom ilc lialman and oilci lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc icmain.3 In ilis vcisc ilc Impcisonal lialma is dcsciibcd by ilc woids 'piaiibodla-maiiam' (complcic consciousncss, as opposcd io maiici), and 'ajasia-sullam' (unlimiicd bliss). Tlc woid 'aima-iaiivam' indicaics ilai ilc Supicmc Tiuil is ilc oiiginal iooi liom wlom all individual spiiii souls lavc bccomc manilcsicd. lccausc ilc Supicmc is ilc oiiginal lailci ol all spiiii souls, Hc lovcs ilcm all cqually wiiloui disciiminaiion.+ Tlc Absoluic Tiuil is lull ol unlimiicd bliss bccausc Hc is 'sasvai' (cicinal), 'piasaniam' (licc liom all disiuibanccs), 'ablayam' (wiiloui lcai), and 'visolam' (wiiloui giicl). Tlc Supicmc docs noi nccd io pciloim pious aciiviiics in oidci io icap lappincss as a icsuli. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing woids:Tlc Supicmc docs noi pciloim saciiliccs in oidci io icap maiciial bcncliis.Tlis mcans ilai ilc liuiiivc saciiliccs dcsciibcd in ilc laima-llanda scciion ol ilc Vcdas will noi lclp onc io undcisiand ilc Absoluic iiuil. Only ilc plilosoplical poiiions ol ilc Vcdas, sucl as ilc Upanisads, will lclp onc io undcisiand ilc Supicmc. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc lilad-aianyala Upanisad (3.9.26):Tlc Supicmc Pcison is icvcalcd in ilc Upanisads.5 Tlai ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial bliss I noi dcpcndcni on ilc iniciaciion ol scnscs wiil scnsc-objccis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids uscd in ilis vcisc io dcsciibc ilc Loid: 'suddlam' (ilc Loid is unconiaminaicd), 'saman' (wiiloui disiinciion) and 'sad-asaial paiam' (and bcyond ilc iniciaciions ol maiciial causcs and cllccis).Tlc pliasc 'maya paiaiiy ablimullc ca vilajjamana' mcans 'Tlc illusoiy cncigy maya is aslamcd io comc bcloic ilc Loid ol His dcvoiccs. Slc llccs lai away liom ilcm.`Anuccheda 81 Wlcn ilc iiuil ol ilc Loid's oiiginal lcaiuic, lnown a llagavan, bccomcs manilcsicd, ilcn ilc iiuil ol ilc Impcisonal lialman lcaiuic auiomaiically bccomcs manilcsicd also. Ioi ilis icason ilis cxplanaiion ol lialman las bccn includcd in ilis cssay, wlicl cxplains ilc naiuic ol llagavan.2 Tlc piopci mcilod ol undcisianding ilc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.7.+) wlcic Suia Gosvami says:Tlus lc lixcd lis mind, pcilccily cngaging ii by linling ii in dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yoga) wiiloui any iingc ol maiciialism, and ilus lc saw ilc Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad along wiil His cxicinal cncigy, wlicl was undci lull coniiol.`Anuccheda 9Tlai ilc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc may bc undcisiood only by dcvoiional scivicc is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad-llagavaiam (3.9.11) wlcic lialma says:O my Loid, Youi dcvoiccs can scc You iliougl ilc cais by ilc pioccss ol bona lidc lcaiing, and ilus ilcii lcaiis bccomc clcanscd, and You ialc Youi scai ilcic. You aic so mcicilul io Youi dcvoiccs ilai You manilcsi Youiscll in ilc paiiiculai cicinal loim ol iiansccndcncc in wlicl ilcy always ilinl ol You.`Tlis vcisc was iccounicd by Siila Suia Gosvami.Anuccheda 101 Tlc llagavan lcaiuic ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing icn and a lall vciscs ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.9.9-19) wlcic Suladcva Gosvami says:Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, bcing ilus vciy mucl saiislicd wiil ilc pcnancc ol Loid lialma was plcascd io manilcsi His pcisonal abodc, Vailunila, ilc supicmc planci abovc all oilcis. Tlis iiansccndcnial abodc ol ilc Loid is adoicd by all scll-icaliscd pcisons liccd liom all linds ol misciics and lcai ol illusoiy cxisicncc.2 In ilai pcisonal abodc ol ilc Loid, ilc maiciial modcs ol ignoiancc and passion do noi picvail, noi is ilcic any ol ilcii inllucncc in goodncss. Tlcic is no picdominancc ol ilc inllucncc ol iimc, so wlai io spcal ol ilc illusoiy, cxicinal cncigy; ii cannoi cnici ilai icgion. Wiiloui disciiminaiion, boil ilc dcmigods and ilc dcmons woislip ilc Loid as dcvoiccs.3 Tlc inlabiianis ol Vailunila plancis aic dcsciibcd as laving a glowing sly-bluisl complcxion. Tlcii cycs icscmblc loius llowcis, ilcii dicss is ol ycllowisl coloui, and ilcii bodily lcaiuics vciy aiiiaciivc. Tlcy aic jusi ilc agc ol giowing youils, ilcy all lavc loui lands, ilcy aic all niccly dccoiaicd wiil pcail nccllaccs wiil oinamcnial mcdallions, and ilcy all appcai io bc cllulgcni.+ Somc ol ilcm aic cllulgcni lilc coial and diamonds in complcxion and lavc gailands on ilcii lcads, blooming lilc loius llowcis, and somc wcai caiiings.5 Tlc Vailunila plancis aic also suiioundcd by vaiious aiiplancs, all glowing and biillianily siiuaicd. Tlcsc aiiplancs bclong io ilc gicai malaimas oi dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Tlc ladics aic as bcauiilul as liglining bccausc ol ilcii cclcsiial complcxions, and all ilcsc combincd iogcilci appcai jusi lilc ilc sly dccoiaicd wiil boil clouds and liglining.6 Tlc goddcss ol loiiunc in lci iiansccndcnial loim is cngagcd in ilc loving scivicc ol ilc Loid's loius lcci, and bcing movcd by ilc blacl bccs, lollowcis ol spiing, slc is noi only bcing cngagcd in vaiicgaicd plcasuic-scivicc io ilc Loid, along wiil lci consiani companions - bui is also cngagcd in singing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid's aciiviiics.7 Loid lialma saw in ilc Vailunila plancis ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc Loid ol ilc cniiic dcvoicc communiiy, ilc Loid ol ilc Goddcss ol loiiunc, ilc Loid ol all saciiliccs, and ilc Loid ol ilc univcisc, and wlo is scivcd by ilc loicmosi sciviiois lilc Nanda, Sunanda, Piabala and Ailana, His immcdiaic associaics.S Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, sccn lcaning lavouiably iowaids His loving sciviiois, His vciy sigli inioxicaiing and aiiiaciivc, appcaicd io bc vciy mucl saiislicd. Hc lad a smiling lacc dccoiaicd wiil an cnclaniing icddisl luc. Hc was dicsscd in ycllow iobcs and woic caiiings and a lclmci on His lcad. Hc lad loui lands, and His clcsi was mailcd wiil ilc lincs ol ilc goddcss ol loiiunc.9 Tlc Loid was scaicd on His ilionc and was suiioundcd by dillcicni cncigics lilc ilc loui, ilc sixiccn, ilc livc, and ilc six naiuial opulcnccs, along wiil oilci insignilicani cncigics ol ilc icmpoiaiy claiacici. lui Hc was ilc laciual Supicmc Loid, cnjoying His own abodc.10 Loid lialma, ilus sccing ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in His lullncss, was ovciwlclmcd wiil joy wiilin lis lcaii, and ilus in lull iiansccndcnial lovc and ccsiasy, lis cycs lillcd wiil icais ol lovc. Hc ilus bowcd down bcloic ilc Loid. Tlai is ilc way ol ilc liglcsi pcilcciion loi ilc living bcing (paiamalamsa).11 And sccing lialma picscni bcloic Him, ilc Loid acccpicd lim as woiily io cicaic living bcings, io bc coniiollcd as Hc dcsiicd, and ilus bcing mucl saiislicd wiil lim, ilc Loid slool lands wiil lialma and, smiling, addicsscd lim ilus.`12 Tlc liisi ol ilcsc vciscs (2.9.9 quoicd in Tcxi 1) slould bc inicipicicd in ilc lollowing way: lialma siaycd in ilc loius llowci ol ilc navcl ol ilc Puiusa-avaiaia namcd Naiayana, and ilcic lc woislippcd ilc Loid by pciloiming ausiciiiics loi His saiislaciion, as ilc Loid Himscll lad picviously oidcicd. Tlc Supicmc Loid bccamc plcascd wiil lialma (sablajiia), and slowcd lim His own (sva-lolam) Vailunila icalm, ilc iopmosi ol all planciaiy sysicms. In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'yai-paiam' may bc inicipicicd io mcan Tlc liglcsi ol all Vailunila plancis: ilc abodc ol ilc oiiginal loim ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad`, oi ii may also bc inicipicicd io mcan 'ilc Vailunila icalm wlicl is noi dillcicni liom ilc Supicmc Tiuil, lialman Himscll.`Tlis Vailunila icalm is dcsciibcd in ilcsc vciscs as lull ol iiansccndcnial vaiiciics and licc liom ilc inllucncc ol ilc illusoiy poicncy, maya.13 In ilis vcisc (2.9.9) ilc Vailunila icalm was icvcalcd io lialma. Vailunila is dcsciibcd lcic as licc liom all misciics and lcais (vyapcia-sanllcsa-vimola-saddlvasam). Accoiding io Paianjali's Yoga-suiias (Sadlana-pada, Suiia 3), ilc livc misciics ol maiciial cxisicncc aic: 1. Ignoiancc, 2. Ialsc-cgo, 3. Lusi, +. Haiicd, and 5. Aiiaclmcni. Vailunila is licc liom ilcsc and all oilci sullciings. Scll-icaliscd souls aic ablc io scc Vailunila (sva-disiavadblil), and ilcy always woislip and gloiily ii (ablisiuiam).1+ Tlai scll-icaliscd souls aic ablc io scc Vailunila is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.16.27-2S) wlicl dcsciibcs ilc Ioui Kumaias' visii io Vailunilalola:Loid lialma said: Alici sccing ilc Loid ol Vailunila, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, in ilc scll-illuminaicd Vailunila planci, ilc sagcs lcli ilai iiansccndcnial abodc.15 Tlc sagcs ciicumambulaicd ilc Supicmc Loid, ollcicd ilcii obcisanccs and iciuincd, cxiicmcly dcliglicd ai lcaining ol ilc divinc opulcncc ol ilc Vaisnava.`16 In ilc ncxi vcisc (2.9.10) wc icad ilai In ilc pcisonal abodc ol ilc Loid ilc maiciial modcs ol ignoiancc and passion do noi picvail, noi is ilcic any ol ilcii inllucncc in goodncss.` Tlc maiciial modc ol goodncss, wlicl is invaiiably mixcd wiil ilc lowci modc ol passion and ignoiancc, docs noi cxisi in Vailunilalola. Only ilc spiiiiual modc ol goodncss, lnown as 'suddla-saiiva', wlicl is complcicly licc liom ilc ioucl ol ilc illusoiy cncigy, maya, cxisis in ilc spiiiiual icalm ol Vailunila.17 Tlai ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic aic noi picscni in ilc Vailunila plancis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc liom ilc Jiiania-sioiia ol ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia:Tlc plancis lnown as Vailunila aic lillcd wiil all six spiiiiual opulcnccs. Tlc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic aic noi picscni on ilcsc plancis, wlicl cannoi bc cnicicd by ilcy wlo aic noi dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid.`1S In ilc dcsciipiion ol Vailunilalola lound in ilc Padma Puiana Uiiaia-llanda, ilc modc ol goodncss picscni in ilc spiiiiual woild is clcaily dcsciibcd as bcing non-maiciial. In ilis passagc, alici dcsciibing ilc opulcnccs and powcis ol ilc maiciial poicncy, Loid Siva cxplains (Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda 255.56.59):19 My dcai Paivaii, you lavc jusi lcaid aboui ilc opulcnccs ol ilc maiciial cncigy, now lcai aboui ilc supicmc opulcnccs ol ilc spiiiiual woild, wlicl compiiscs ilicc quaiicis ol all cxisicncc.20 Pioduccd liom ilc pcispiiaiion ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlosc limbs aic all ilc Vcdic liiciaiuics, ilc auspicious Viiaja Rivci llows on ilc boundaiy ilai scpaiaics ilc maiciial cncigy liom ilc spiiiiual sly.21 On ilc laiilci sloic ol ilc Viiaja Rivci is ilc spiiiiual sly. In ilai spiiiiual sly I ilc abodc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlai abodc is cicinal, impciislablc, unlimiicd, cllulgcni, iiansccndcnial, and lull ol ncciai. Tlai abodc is madc ol ilc iiansccndcnial cncigy lnown as ilc modc ol puic goodncss (suddla-saiiva).`22 Tlc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic ncvci cxisi alonc. Il onc ol ilc modcs is picscni, ilcn ilc oilci iwo aic also picscni. Tlis I conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcnis ol Vcdic liiciaiuic:Tlc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic aic picscni iogcilci.`Sanllya-laumudiTlc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic aic picscni iogcilci. Tlcy do noi icmain alonc. Il onc is picscni, ilcn ilc oilcis aic also picscni.`llaiiilaWlcicvci onc modc ol maiciial naiuic is picscni, ilc oilci modcs aic also ilcic. Tlc modc ol goodncss, ilcicloic, docs noi cxisi alonc, bui is always mixcd wiil passion and ignoiancc. In ilc samc way ilc oilci modcs ol naiuic cannoi bc manilcsicd alonc. Tlcy aic always mixcd wiil ilc oilci modcs.`Agama-sasiiaTlc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic aic always iogcilci, ilcy cannoi bc scpaiaicd liom cacl oilci.`Vcdic liiciaiuic23 lccausc in ilc Vailunila plancis ilcic is no modc ol maiciial passion, noiling is cicaicd ilcic; bccausc ilcic is no modc ol maiciial ignoiancc, noiling is dcsiioycd ilcic; and bccausc ilcic is no modc ol maiciial goodncss, noiling is maiciial ilcic, bui cvciyiling is spiiiiual, cicinal, lull ol lnowlcdgc and bliss. Tlis vcisc (2.9.10) givcs ilc icason loi ilc abscncc ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic wiilin ilc icalm ol Vailunila by saying:Tlcic is no picdominancc ol ilc inllucncc ol iimc.`Tlc iimc clcmcni agiiaics ilc maiciial cncigy, and liom ilai agiiaiion ilc ilicc modcs ol naiuic aic boin. lccausc in Vailunila ilcic is no maiciial iimc, wlicl is ilc causc ol ilc six vaiiciics ol maiciial iiansloimaiion, ilcic aic also no ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.2+ In ilis vcisc (2.9.10) ilc pliasc 'na yaiia maya' (Tlcic is no picdominancc ol ilc cxicinal, illusoiy cncigy) is lilc an axc ilai cuis ai ilc iooi ol any conccpiion ilai maiciial iimc oi ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic lavc any inllucncc in ilc Vailunila woild. In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'maya' docs noi only mcan 'illusion', bui ii iclcis io a spccilic poicncy ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cniiusicd wiil ilc cicaiion, mainicnancc and dissoluiion ol ilc maiciial univciscs. lccausc maya is abscni in Vailunila, ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc, as wcll as maiciial goodncss, wlicl is invaiiably coniaminaicd by ilc lowci modcs ol passion and ignoiancc, aic also abscni. In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'misiam' may also bcinicipicicd io mcan 'piadlana', oi ilc unmanilcsicd siagc ol ilc modcs ol naiuic, wlcic ilc modcs aic noi yci dillcicniiaicd, bui aic mcigcd iogcilci as a singlc unii.Inicipicicd in ilis way ii may bc undcisiood ilai cvcn ai ilc bcginning ol ilc cicaiion maya and piadlana wcic iwo disiinci poicncics ol ilc Loid and wcic noi idcniical. lccausc cvcn ai ilc bcginning ol maiciial cicaiion piadlana was dillcicni liom maya, ii may bc undcisiood ilai piadlana is always indcpcndcni ol boil maya and iimc. Ii is a scpaiaic, indcpcndcni poicncy.Tlc pliasc 'lim uiapaic' (wlai io spcal ol) icinloiccs ilc siaicmcni ol ilis vcisc, ilai in Vailunilalola ilcic is no inllucncc ol ilc maiciial cncigy. Tlcic is no nccd io bclaboui ilis poini, bui ii is sullicicni io siaic, in a gcncial way, ilai in Vailunilalola ilcic is no inllucncc ol ilc modc ol passion and ignoiancc.25 Ai ilis poini somconc may objcci: Is ii noi so ilai bccausc in Vailunila ilcic is no inllucncc ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic, wlicl aic ilc oiigin ol vaiiciics, ii may bc logically concludcd ilai ilcic is no vaiiciy in Vailunilalola'`Considciing ilai somconc migli iaisc ilis objcciion, Suladcva Gosvami dcsciibcs ilc vaiiciics picscni in ilc Loid' iiansccndcnial poicncy lnown as suddla-saiiva, wlicl picvails in ilc Vailunila plancis. Tlis dcsciipiion bcgins wiil ilc woid 'laicl' in vcisc 2.9.10 (quoicd in Tcxi 2).26 In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'suia' mcans 'ilosc inllucnccd by ilc modc ol maiciial goodncss', and 'asuia' mcans 'ilosc inllucnccd by ilc basci modcs ol passion and ignoiancc'. In Vailunila boil ilcsc classcs ol living cniiiics woislip ilc Loid. In laci, lowcvci, bccausc ilc icsidcnis ol Vailunila consianily woislip ilc Loid ilcy aic mosi cxalicd and aic bcyond all ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcy aic aciually abovc ilc siaius ol ciilci dcmon oi dcmigod.27 Suladcva Gosvami dcsciibcs ilc icsidcnis ol Vailunilalola in ilc lollowing woids (2.9.11):Tlc inlabiianis ol ilc Vailunila plancis aic dcsciibcd as laving a glowing sly-bluisl complcxion (syamavadaial). Tlcii cycs icscmblc loius llowcis (saia-paiia-locanal), ilcii dicss is ol ycllowisl coloui (pisanga-vasiia), and ilcii bodily lcaiuics vciy aiiiaciivc (suiucal). Tlcy aic jusi ilc agc ol giowing youils (supcsasal), ilcy aic all niccly dccoiaicd wiil pcail nccllaccs (mani-piavcla) and wiil oinamcnial mcdallions (nislablaianal) and ilcy all appcai io bc cllulgcni (suvaicasal).Many ol ilc Vailunila icsidcnis lavc a bluisl complcxion lilc ilai ol ilc Loid, bui somc lavc a dillcicni complcxion and ilcy aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (2.9.12):Somc ol ilcm aic cllulgcni lilc coial and diamonds in complcxion.`2S In ilc ncxi vciscs (2.9.13-15), Suladcva Gosvami, alici dcsciibing ilc icsidcnis ol Vailunila, coniinucs lis dcsciipiion ol ilc Vailunila plancis. Synonyms loi somc ol ilc woids in ilcsc vciscs lollow:iil` mcans 'ilc goddcss ol loiiunc, wlo is ilc iiansccndcnial poicncy ol ilc Loid', 'iupini' mcans 'in ilc loim ol ilc mosi dcai consoii ol ilc Loid', 'manam' mcans 'icspccilul sciviccs', 'vibluiiblil' mcans 'accompanicd by lci pcisonal associaics', 'picnllam' mcans 'movcmcni ol cnjoymcni', 'siiia' mcans 'cngaging in iiansccndcnial pasiimcs', 'lusumalaial' mcans 'spiing', 'lusumalaianuga' mcans 'ilc bumblc bccs, wlo aic lollowcis ol spiing', 'giyamana' mcans 'bcing gloiilicd in vaiious ways', and 'piiya-laima' mcans 'ilc aciiviiics ol ilc dcaimosi Loid Haii.`29 Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also dcsciibcd as ilc masici ol ilc lciocs in ilc Yadava dynasiy. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.+.19), wlcic Siila Suladcva Gosvami says:May Loid Sii Kisna, wlo is ilc woislipablc Loid ol all dcvoiccs, ilc pioiccioi and gloiy ol all ilc lings lilc Andlala and Visni ol ilc Yadu dynasiy, ilc lusband ol all goddcsscs ol loiiunc, ilc diiccioi ol all saciiliccs and ilcicloic ilc lcadci ol all living cniiiics, ilc coniiollci ol all iniclligcncc, ilc piopiicioi ol all plancis, spiiiiual and maiciial, and ilc supicmc incainaiion on ilc caiil (ilc supicmc all in all), bc mcicilul upon mc.`30 In ilc ncxi vcisc (2.9.16 quoicd in icxi S), Suladcva Gosvami says ilai ilc vciy sigli ol ilc Loid is 'inioxicaiing and aiiiaciivc', and 'His clcsi is mailcd wiil ilc lincs ol ilc goddcss ol loiiunc.' Tlc goddcss ol loiiunc icmains as a goldcn linc on ilc lcli sidc ol ilc Loid's clcsi. In ilc ncxi vcisc (2.9.17, quoicd in Tcxi 9), ilc loui poicncics mcniioncd may bc inicipicicd io iclci io ilc loui spiiiiual poicncics bcginning wiil ilc poicncy ol icligious piciy. Tlc loui poicncics clcaily docs noi iclci io iiicligion oi any similai cxicinal, maiciial cncigics. Tlcsc spiiiiual poicncics in ilc spiiiiual icalm aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda (91.100):31 In ilc spiiiiual woild ilc Rg, Yajui, Sama and Ailaiva Vcdas, as wcll as ilc loui poicncics: piciy, lnowlcdgc, opulcncc, and icnunciaiion, cicinally icmain.`Wc may noic ilai ilc usc ol ilc woid 'iaila' in ilis vcisc in ilc middlc ol samasa is noi a giammaiical llaw, loi ilis vcisc is spolcn by Siila Vyasadcva Himscll.32 Tlc sixiccn poicncics mcniioncd in ilis vcisc (2.9.17 quoicd in Tcxi 9) aic ilc sixiccn dooilccpcis ol Vailunila, wlo aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Padma Puiana Uiiaia-llanda (256.1+-17), wlcic Loid Siva says io Paivaii:O bcauiilul-laccd Paivaii, Canda and Piacanda aic ilc guaids posicd ai ilc casicin gaic ol Vailunila. lladia and Subladiala guaid ilc souilcin gaic, Jaya and Vijaya icmain ai ilc wcsicin gaic, and Dlaia and Vidlaia pioicci ilc noiilcin gaic. In addiiion io ilcm Kumuda and Kumudalsa guaid ilc souilcasi, Pundaiila and Vamana guaid ilc souilwcsi, Sanlulaina and Saivanciia guaid ilc noiilcasi. Tlcsc aic ilc namcs ol ilc sixiccn pioicciois ol Vailunila-puii.`33 Tlc livc poicncics mcniioncd in ilis vcisc (2.9.17 quoicd in Tcxi 9) aic namcd in ilc lollowing vcisc liom ilc Padma Puiana Uiiaia llanda (256-2+):Kuima, Nagaiaja, Vainaicya ilc masici ol ilc Vcdas, Clandal and Saivamaniia aic ilc livc poicncics ilai compiisc ilc loim ol ilc spiiiiual icalm.`3+ Laici, in ilc Kisna-sandaibla, wc will dcsciibc ilc pcisonal abodc ol Sii Kisna, wlicl is siiuaicd in ilc liglcsi paii ol ilc Vailunila icalm. In ilai icalm ol Sii Kisna ilcic aic also sixiccn iiansccndcnial poicncics, and ilcii namcs bcginning wiil Cyuia and Alambini will bc givcn in a passagc liom ilc Piablasa-llanda quoicd in ilc Kisna-sandaibla.35 In ilis vcisc (2.9.17 quoicd in icxi 9) ilc woid 'svail' mcans 'pcisonal', 'blagail' mcans 'wiil vaiious opulcnccs and poicncics', and 'yuliam' mcans 'cmpowcicd'. 'Iiaiaiia' mcans 'among ilc mysiic-yogis', and 'adliuvail' mcans 'icmpoiaiy'. In oilci woids, ilc mysiic yogis aiiain opulcnccs ilai aic a laini icllcciion ol ilosc ilc Loid manilcsis in ilc spiiiiual woild. Tlc woid 'vc' mcans 'own', and 'dlaman' mcans 'in ilc Loid's abodc ol Vailunila'. lccausc Loid Naiayana is supicmcly indcpcndcni and bccausc Hc cngagcs only in cnjoying vaiious pasiimcs (iamamanam) in ilc Vailunila woild, ilcicloic Hc slould bc undcisiood io bc ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (isvaiam). Hc is noi an oidinaiy living cniiiy.36 Tlc ncxi vcisc (2.9.1S quoicd in icxi 10) says: 'bowing bcloic ilc Loid's loius lcci is ilc way ol liglcsi pcilcciion loi ilc living bcing.' Tlis siaicmcni conliims ilai ilc loim ol ilc Loid is noi maiciial, bui puicly spiiiiual, cicinal, lull ol lnowlcdgc and lull ol bliss.37 In ilc ncxi vcisc (2.9.19 quoicd in icxi 11), Suladcva Gosvami says ilc Supicmc Loid 'acccpicd lialma as woiily io cicaic living bcings, io bc coniiollcd as Hc dcsiicd (piaja-visaigc nija-sasanailanam), and ilus ilc Loid spolc io lim as lollow (bablasc).'3S Ai ilis poini somconc may iaisc ilc lollowing objcciion: lialma is mcicly ilc cicaioi ol ilc maiciial univciscs, and is vciy insignilicani in compaiison io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc gicaicsi ol ilc gicai. I do noi ilinl ii is possiblc loi lialma io lavc a diicci iclaiionslip wiil ilc Supicmc Loid.`In oidci io answci ilis qucsiion, Siila Suladcva Gosvami dcsciibcd ilc Supicmc Loid's inicnsc lovc loi His dcvoiccs in ilc ncxi vcisc (2.9.19 quoicd in icxi 11) by saying: Tlc Loid was vciy mucl saiislicd wiil lialma, slool lands wiil lim, and, sliglily smiling, addicsscd lim ilus.`Anuccheda 11Tlc llagavan, oi pcisonal, lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc Spiiii is noi an aiiilicial cicaiion spiung liom ilc imaginaiion ol somc ilcologicians and plilosoplcis, bui ii is ilc aciual iiuil. Tlis pcisonal aspcci ol ilc Supicmc Tiuil, wlo is always accompanicd by His vaiious poicncics, is ilc subjcci maiici dcsciibcd in ilc vciscs ol Siimad llagavaiam, and in ilc vciy bcginning ol ilc llagavaiam, Siila Vyasadcva siicsscs ilc icaliiy ol ilis subjcci maiici (ilc Supicmc Pcison) by saying (1.1.2):Tlis llagavaia Puiana piopounds ilc liglcsi iiuil wlicl is undcisiandablc by ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic lully puic in lcaii. Tlc liglcsi iiuil is icaliiy disiinguislcd liom illusion loi ilc wcllaic ol all. Sucl iiuil upioois ilc ilicclold misciics.`In ilis vcisc ilc Supicmc Tiuil is dcsciibcd by ilc iwo adjcciivcs 'sivadam' and 'iiayonmulanam'. Sivadam' mcans 'Hc wlo givc iiansccndcnial bliss by ilc mcans ol His own iiansccndcnial poicncy', and 'iapa-iiayonmulanam' mcans 'Hc wlo upioois ilc ilicclold misciics causcd by ilc illusoiy poicncy, maya.'Anuccheda 12Tlc poicncics ol ilc Loid may bc dividcd inio iwo opposiic linds: 1. Tlc inicinal, oi spiiiiual poicncy, and 2. Tlc cxicinal, oi maiciial poicncy, maya. Tlcsc iwo poicncics inspiic ilcii lollowcis io ilinl and aci in divcisc ways, and in ilis way ilcic aic innumciablc dillcicni aciiviiics and innumciablc dillcicni plilosoplics, cacl losiilc io ilc oilcis. Ncvciilclcss all ilis vaiiciy las a singlc oiigin. Tlai singlc oiigin is dcsciibcd by Malaiaja Dalsa in ilc lollowing piayci (Siimad llagavaiam 6.+.31) addicsscd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad:Lci mc ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio ilc all-pcivading Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol godlcad, wlo posscsscs unlimiicd iiansccndcnial qualiiics. Aciing liom wiilin ilc coics ol ilc lcaiis ol all plilosoplcis, wlo piopagaic vaiious vicws, Hc causcs ilcm io loigci ilcii own souls wlilc somciimcs agiccing and somciimcs disagiccing among ilcmsclvcs. Tlus Hc cicaics wiilin ilis maiciial woild a siiuaiion in wlicl ilcy aic unablc io comc io a conclusion. I ollci my obcisanccs unio Him.Anuccheda 13Tlai all vaiicgaicd poicncics lavc ilcii oiigin in ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (+.9.16) wlcic Dliuva Malaiaja says io ilc Supicmc Loid:My dcai Loid, in Youi impcisonal manilcsiaiion ol lialman ilcic aic always iwo opposing clcmcnis - lnowlcdgc and ignoiancc. Youi mulii-cncigics aic coniinually manilcsi, bui ilc impcisonal lialman, wlicl is undividcd, oiiginal, clangclcss, unlimiicd and blisslul, is ilc causc ol ilc maiciial manilcsiaiion. lccausc You aic ilc samc impcisonal lialman, I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio You.`Tlc mulii-cncigics ol ilc Loid may bc dividcd inio ilicc bioad caicgoiics: ilc supciioi, inicimcdiaic, and inlciioi poicncics. Inspiicd by ilcsc vaiicgaicd cncigics ol ilc Loid, ilc living cniiiics aci in vaiious ways.Anuccheda 1+Tlai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc oiigin and icscivoii ol all poicncics is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (+.17.33), wlcic Maiiicya Muni says io Viduia:My dcai Loid, by Youi own poicncics You aic ilc oiiginal causc ol ilc maiciial clcmcnis, as wcll as ilc pciloiming insiiumcnis (ilc scnscs), ilc woilcis ol ilc scnscs (ilc coniiolling dcmigods), ilc iniclligcncc and ilc cgo, as wcll as cvciyiling clsc. ly Youi cncigy You manilcsi ilis cniiic cosmic cicaiion, mainiain ii and dissolvc ii. Tliougl Youi cncigy alonc cvciyiling is somciimcs manilcsi and somciimcs noi manilcsi. You aic ilcicloic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc causc ol all causcs. I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio You.`Anuccheda 15Tlai ilc Loid's vaiicgaicd poicncics aic inconccivablc and cannoi bc complcicly undcisiood by ilc individual living cniiiy is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcnis ol Vcdic liiciaiuic:O Loid, You aic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad loi all living cniiiics. Youi divcisc cncigics can aci muliilaiiously. Tlis is inconccivablc io us.`Dcvaluii-dcvi io Loid Kapila (Siimad llagavaiam 3.33.3)Tlc Absoluic Tiuil and His poicncics aic inconccivablc. Tlcy can only bc undcisiood by ilc Vcdic liiciaiuics, wlicl aic ilc diicci icvclaiion ol ilc Loid.`Vcdania-suiia 2.1.27Innumciablc vaiicgaicd and inconccivablc poicncics cxisi wiilin ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.`Vcdania-suiia 2.1.2SAnuccheda 161 Tlc naiuic ol ilc Loid's poicncics is luiilci dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.3.37) wlcic Pippalayana Rsi says io Malaiaja Nimi:Oiiginally onc, ilc Absoluic, lialman, comcs io bc lnown a ilicclold, manilcsiing iiscll as ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic: goodncss, passion and ignoiancc. lialman luiilci cxpands ii poicncy, and ilus ilc powci io aci and ilc powci ol consciousncss bccomcs manilcsi, along wiil ilc lalsc cgo, wlicl covcis ilc idcniiiy ol ilc condiiioncd living bcing. Tlus, by ilc cxpansion ol ilc mulii-poicncics ol ilc Absoluic, ilc dcmigods, as ilc cmbodimcni ol lnowlcdgc, bccomc manilcsi, along wiil ilc maiciial scnscs, ilcii objccis, and ilc icsulis ol maiciial aciiviiy, namcly lappincss and disiicss. In ilis way ilc manilcsiaiion ol ilc maiciial woild ialcs placc as ilc subilc causc and as ilc maiciial cllcci visiblc in ilc appcaiancc ol gioss maiciial objccis. lialman, wlicl is ilc souicc ol all subilc and gioss manilcsiaiions, is simuliancously iiansccndcnial io ilcm, bcing absoluic.`2 In ilis vcisc ilc pliasc 'bialmaiva uiu-salii blaii' mcans 'Tlc Supicmc Tiuil posscsscs many poicncics'. Tlc woid 'cva' (cciiainly) cmplasiscs ilc laci ilai Loid's poicncics aic noi mcicly imagincd io cxisi, bui aic ical, ilc poicncics naiuially posscsscd by ilc Loid. In ilc lasi linc ol ilis vcisc 'yai' iclcis io lialman, 'sai' io caiil and ilc oilci gioss maiciial clcmcnis, 'asai'' io pialiii and ilc oilci subilc maiciial clcmcnis, 'iayol' io ilcsc iwo cxicinal poicncics, and 'paiam' io ilc Loid's pcisonal inicinal poicncy, wlicl is ilc spiiiiual plancis ol Vailunila, and ilc puic spiiii souls, wlo aic His maiginal poicncics. Any conccpiion ilai coniiadicis ilis is in ciioi.3 Somconc may asl: Wlai dillcicni linds ol poicncics aic ilc piopciiy ol ilc Loid'` In oidci io answci ilis qucsiion, Pippalayana Muni said: 'jnana-liiyaiila-plala-iupaiaya'. Tlis mcans ilai ilc Loid las many poicncics, sucl as His jnana-salii, wlicl consisis ol ilc malai-iaiiva and oilci poicncics, liiya-salii, wlicl consisis ol ilc suiias and oilci poicncics, and aiila-salii, wlicl consisis ol ilc ian-maiias and oilci poicncics. Tlcsc sai and asai poicncics aic maiciial in naiuic. Abovc ilcm (iayol paiam) is ilc supicmc goal ol lilc, ilc spiiiiual Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is lnown as llagavan and wlo is accompanicd by His poicncics. Also abovc ilcm is ilc spiiiiual living cniiiy, wlo is lnown as jiva, and wlo, bccausc Hc lollows ilc Loid, is puic. In ilis way ilc Loid's many poicncics (uiu-salii), wlicl bcgin wiil His jnana-salii and liiya-salii aic dcsciibcd.+ Tlc Loid's poicncics aic ical, noi imagincd, loi ilcy lavc cmanaicd liom ilc Loid Himscll, ilc Supicmc Rcaliiy. Tlis is conliimcd by Pippalayana Muni in ilc lollowing siaicmcni:Oiiginally onc, ilc Absoluic, lialman, comcs io bc lnown as ilicclold, manilcsiing iiscll as ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic: goodncss, passion and ignoiancc. In ilis way lialman cxpands iis poicncy.`Iiom ilc Supicmc lialman ilc unmanilcsicd modcs ol maiciial naiuic (iii-vii) aic manilcsicd; liom ilc unmanilcsicd modc ol naiuic ilc liiya-salii is manilcsicd, liom ilc liiya-salii ilc suiiam is manilcsicd.Iiom jnana-salii ilc powci ol consciousncss is manilcsicd and liom ilc powci ol consciousncss ilc lalsc-cgo (alam) is manilcsicd. Tlc lalsc cgo covcis ilc awaicncss ol ilc puic individual soul (jivam) wlicl is onc ol ilc Loid's spiiiiual poicncics.Tlc Vcdic liiciaiuics cxplain (piavadanii) ilc manilcsiaiion ol ilc Loid's poicncics in ilis way. Tlai all ilcsc vaiicgaicd cncigics lavc cmanaicd liom ilc Supicmc Godlcad is cxplaincd in ilc Clandogya Upanisad (6.2.1) in ilc lollowing woids:O gcnilc siudcni, in ilc bcginning, bcloic ilc cicaiion, only ilc Supicmc Godlcad was manilcsi. Ii is liom Him ilai cvciyiling las comc.`lccausc ilc vaiicgaicd poicncics lavc cmanaicd liom ilc Supicmc Tiuil, ilcy musi also bc ical, ilcy cannoi bc lalsc. All ilcsc poicncics aic lilc ilc limbs and paiis ol ilc limbs ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Hc is lilc ilc sun, and all ilcsc poicncics aic lilc ilc iays ol ligli cmanaiing liom ilai Supicmc-sun. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siuii-sasiia (lound in ilc lollowing placcs: Kaila Upanisad 2.2.15, Mundala Upanisad 2.2.10, and Svciasvaiaia Upanisad 6.1+):Lvciyiling ilai cxisis is lilc iays ol ligli cmanaiing liom ilc Supicmc.`5 Tlai ilc Loid's poicncics aic ical, and also inconccivablc io ilc living cniiiics, is conliimcd by ilc lollowing qucsiion poscd by Maiiicya Muni, and answcicd by Paiasaia Muni.Maiiicya aslcd (Visnu Puiana 1.3.2):Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is supicmcly puic in lcaii and mind, and Hc is bcyond ilc inllucncc ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Hc is unlimiicd. How is ii possiblc loi Him io diiccily cngagc in ilc cicaiion, mainicnancc and dcsiiuciion ol ilc vaiious maiciial univciscs' I would cxpcci ilai Hc would lavc no diicci conncciion ai all wiil ilc maiciial woild.`6 Paiasaia Muni answcicd Maiiicya's qucsiion in ilc lollowing woids (Visnu Puiana 1.3.3):O bcsi ol ilc ascciics, ilc poicncics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (sucl as saiga-salii, ilc poicncy ol maiciial cicaiion, and oilcis) aic all inconccivablc and cannoi bc undcisiood by ilc individual living cniiiics. Jusi as lcai is ilc poicncy ol liic, ilcsc aic all ilc poicncics ol ilc Supicmc.`7 Siidlaia Svami commcnis on ilis vcisc in ilc lollowing woids:In ilis vcisc Maiiicya Muni doubis ilai ii is possiblc loi ilc iiansccndcnial Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io cngagc in ilc mundanc aciiviiy ol maiciial cicaiion. Tlc woid 'niigunasya' uscd in ilis vcisc mcans 'licc liom ilc inllucncc ol ilc maiciial modcs ol goodncss, passion and ignoiancc'. Apiamcyasya' mcans 'licc liom ilc limiiaiions ol iimc, spacc, and oilci maiciial icsiiiciing laciois'. 'Suddlasya' mcans 'wiiloui a maiciial body', oi 'Hc wlo docs noi icquiic anyonc's lclp in oidci io do anyiling'. 'Amalaimanal' mcans 'Hc wlo is licc liom maiciial piciy and impiciy, and wlo docs noi lavc io pciloim any Vcdic iiiual in oidci io bccomc puiilicd.' Obsciving ilai ilc Supicmc is dillcicni liom, and uniouclcd by, maiici, Maiiicya Muni doubis ilai ii is possiblc loi Him io cicaic somciling so dillcicni liom Himscll.S In ilc ncxi vcisc and a lall, Paiasaia Muni answcis Maiiicya's qucsiion by saying ilai ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad acis wiilin ilc maiciial woild iliougl ilc agcncy ol His inconccivablc poicncics. Tlc Loid's poicncics may bc considcicd inconccivablc in iwo ways. Iiisi, ilcy aic inconccivablc bccausc ilcy aic so gicai and powcilul ilai ilc iiny logical appaiaius ol ilc condiiioncd soul docs noi lavc ilc siicngil io undcisiand ilcm, and sccond, ilcy aic inconccivablc bccausc ilcy aic simuliancously onc and dillcicni liom ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, a sccming coniiadiciion wlicl ilc iniclligcncc ol ilc condiiioncd souls is gcncially noi laigc cnougl io lousc. Tlis sccming coniiadiciion can bc undcisiood, lowcvci, by ilc cxamplc ol ilc liic and iis poicncy lcai. Hcai is ilc poicncy ol liic and ii las spccilic buining powci obiaincd liom ii's oiigin, ilc liic. In somc ways ilc lcai is ilc samc as ilc liic iiscll, and in oilci ways ii is dillcicni. In ilc samc way cvciyiling ilai cxisis is ilc poicncy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, simuliancously onc and dillcicni liom Him.In ilis way ilc simuliancous oncncss and dillcicncc may bc undcisiood. Wc may also noic in ilis vcisc ilai ilc woid 'blava-saliayal' mcans 'pcilcci by naiuic'. In ilis way, cvcn ilougl ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvci iouclcd by ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic, and cvcn ilougl Hc ncvci diiccily coniacis ilc maiciial naiuic, Hc cicaics ilc maiciial univciscs, and pciloims vaiious aciiviiics wiilin ilcm, by mcans ol His inconccivablc poicncics.`9 Tlai ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici ol inconccivablc poicncics is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.S):Hc docs posscss bodily loim lilc ilai ol an oidinaiy living cniiiy. Tlcic is no dillcicncc bciwccn His body and His soul. Hc is absoluic. All His scnscs aic iiansccndcnial. Any onc ol His scnscs can pciloim ilc aciion ol any oilci scnsc. Tlcicloic, no onc is gicaici ilai Him oi cqual io Him. His poicncics aic muliilaiious, and ilus His dccds aic auiomaiically pciloimcd as a naiuial scqucncc.`10 Tlai ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici ol innumciablc poicncics is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Siuii-sasiia (Svciasvaiaia Upanisad +.10):Alilougl maya is lalsc oi icmpoiaiy, ilc baclgiound ol maya is ilc supicmc magician, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is Malcsvaia, ilc supicmc coniiollci.`11 Lvciyiling ilai cxisis is ilc poicncy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and is simuliancously onc and dillcicni liom Him jusi as lcai is noi dillcicni liom liic. Tlc woid 'blava-saliayal' may also bc inicipicicd io mcan 'pioduccd liom ilc iiansccndcnial body ol ilc Loid.' lccausc ilc Loid's poicncics aic manilcsicd liom His own loim, ilcy aic also simuliancously onc and dillcicni liom Him. No onc can dclcai ilis aigumcni oi piovc anyiling dillcicni ilan ilis. Tlai ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici ol innumciablc poicncics is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcnis ol ilc Upanisads:Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las muliilaiious poicncics.`Svciasvaiaia Upanisad 6.STlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc supicmc masici and coniiollci ol cvciyiling ilai cxisis.`lilad-aianyala Upanisad +.+.2212 In ilis passagc (liom ilc Visnu Puiana, quoicd in Tcxis 5 and 6) Maiiicya poscs lis qucsiion liom ilc poini ol vicw ol ilc impcisonalisis, wlo mainiain ilai ilc Supicmc las no qualiiics, and Paiasaia Muni icplics by ialing ilc siancc ol ilc pcisonalisis wlo icacl ilai ilc Supicmc las qualiiics, and ilai vaiiciy cxisis cvcn in ilc spiiiiual woild. Maiiicya uscs woids lilc suddlasya` (puic) and 'adclasya' (wiiloui a body) io dcsciibc ilc Supicmc. Hc was ilinling in icims ol an impcisonal Supicmc wiiloui poicncics. Paiasaia Muni, in lis icply, uscd ilcsc samc icims io dcsciibc ilc pcisonal lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc. In Paiasaia's answci ilc icim 'niigunasya' (wiiloui qualiiics) uscd by Maiiicya io dcsciibc ilc Supicmc was answcicd by ilc woid 'aciniya-jnana-gocaial' (inconccivablc). ly using ilis woid, Paiasaia linicd io Maiiicya ilai ilc Supicmc is callcd 'niiguna' (wiiloui qualiiics) bccausc His qualiiics aic so gicai ilai ilcy cannoi bc lully oi piopcily undcisiood by ilc individual living cniiiics. Wlcn Maiiicya uscd ilc woids 'amalaimanal' (llawlcss) and 'suddlasya' (puic), lc considcicd ilai ilc Supicmc was wiiloui qualiiics, in oilci woids lc ilougli ol ilc Supicmc as puic in ilc way an unllawcd piccc ol glass oi ciysial is puic by viiiuc ol laving no qualiiics. Paiasaia Muni acccpicd ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc puiiiy ol ilc Supicmc in a dillcicni way. Ioi Him ilc Supicmc lad qualiiics, bui no viccs oi impcilcciions. In ilis way ilc Supicmc is puic. In lis answci Paiasaia icjccicd ilc impcisonalisiic conccpi ol ilc Supicmc iclciicd io by Maiiicya and insicad dcsciibcd ilc Supicmc as pcison, ilc masici ol innumciablc inconccivablc poicncics. Hcai is somciimcs picscni in waici, aii, oi oilci clcmcnis, bui ii is always picscni in ilc liic-clcmcni, and can ncvci bc scpaiaicd liom ii. Jusi as lcai is always picscni in liic, in ilc samc way ilc inconccivablc poicncics ol ilc Supicmc cannoi bc scpaiaicd liom Him. Tlcy aic an iniiinsic paii ol His naiuic. lccausc ilc Supicmc posscsscs unlimiicd inconccivablc poicncics, Hc is ilc gicaicsi, and no onc is cqual oi gicaici ilan Him. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.S):No onc is cqual io oi gicaici ilan ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.`13 In ilc Upanisads and oilci Vcdic liiciaiuics ilc Loid's poicncics aic somciimcs dcsciibcd as 'bialma' (ilc gicaicsi). Tlis docs noi mcan ilai ilc Loid's poicncics aic gicaici ilan ilc Loid Himscll, bui mcicly ilai ilc Loid's poicncics aic cxiicmcly powcilul, and cannoi bc clcclcd by anyonc cxccpi loi ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll. Tlc Loid's iiansccndcnial poicncy aciivaics ilc maiciial naiuic, wlicl movcs ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic, wlicl bccomc iiansloimcd inio ilc 'saiga-salii' (poicncy ol maiciial cicaiion) and oilci maiciial poicncics. In ilis way ilc allaiis ol ilc maiciial univciscs aic conducicd by ilc Loid's poicncics, wiiloui any diicci inicivcniion by ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ncvci iouclcd by ilc maiciial cncigy.1+ Tlc woid 'bialma' (ilc gicaicsi) is also uscd io dcsciibc ilc Loid's poicncics in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Clandogya Upanisad (3.1+.1):Tlis cniiic maiciial woild is lialman, ilc gicaicsi.`Tlis dcsciipiion ol ilc maiciial poicncy ol ilc Loid as ilc 'gicaicsi', slould bc undcisiood, lowcvci, only in a iclaiivc scnsc, loi ilc Loid's maiciial poicncy is noi gicaici ilan ilc Loid Himscll, as Maiiicya Muni las alicady cxplaincd by using ilc woid 'niigunasya' (uniouclcd by ilc maiciial modcs ol naiuic) io dcsciibc ilc Loid. Tlc Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (+.10) also dcsciibcs ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as supciioi io His maiciial poicncy in ilc lollowing woids:Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici and coniiollci ol ilis maiciial woild, wlicl is His illusoiy poicncy, maya.`Tlai maya is inlciioi io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.7.+):Tlc illusoiy poicncy maya ialcs slclici ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and is indcpcndcni on Him.`In ilis way ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is supciioi io His illusoiy poicncy, maya, cvcn ilougl ilai poicncy is somciimcs dcsciibcd as 'bialma' (ilc gicaicsi). lccausc ilc Loid's poicncics (lnown as 'bialma') aic suboidinaic io Him, Hc dclcgaics io ilcm vaiious duiics in iclaiion io ilc maiciial woild. Tlcy coniaci ilc maiciial cncigy, noi Hc.15 Tlai ilc Pcisonaliiy ol godlcad is supciioi io His poicncics ('bialma') is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavad-giia (13.12-13), wlcic ilc Loid Himscll says:I slall now cxplain ilc lnowablc, lnowing wlicl you will ialc ilc cicinal. Tlis bcginninglcss, and ii is suboidinaic io Mc. Ii is callcd lialman, ilc spiiii, and ii lics bcyond ilc causc and cllcci ol ilis maiciial woild.`16 Tlc Supicmc Tiuil las innumciablc inconccivablc poicncics, wlicl may bc gioupcd inio loui bioad caicgoiics: 1. His inicinal poicncy, 2. Tlc sccondaiy poicncics manilcsi liom His inicinal poicncy, 3. Tlc individual living cniiiics (jivas), and +. Tlc unmanilcsi siaic ol ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic (piadlana). As ilc sun icmains in onc placc, alilougl iis poicncy, ilc sunslinc, cxpands in all diicciions, so ilc pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad icmains in onc placc, alilougl His vaiicgaicd poicncics aic cvciywlcic.17 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Visnu Puiana (1.22.5+):Jusi as ilc illuminaiion ol a liic, wlicl is siiuaicd in onc placc, is spicad all ovci, ilc cncigics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Paiabialman, aic spicad all ovci ilis univcisc.`1S Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni lound in boil ilc Kaila Upanisad (2.2.15) and Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.1+):Tlis cniiic cosmos is ilc cllulgcncc manilcsicd liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.`19 Somconc may aiguc ilai ii is coniiadicioiy io say ilai ilc Supicmc siays in onc placc, and ai ilc samc iimc Hc is picscni cvciywlcic. Tlis objcciion is noi valid, loi ilc Loid posscsscs all inconccivablc poicncics by wlicl Hc can do any impossiblc iling. In ilis way Hc can bc simuliancously localiscd and all-pcivading. Tlc Loid's poicncics aic dividcd inio ilicc caicgoiics as lollows: 1. Aniaianga-salii, ilc inicinal poicncy, wlicl is picscni in ilc spiiiiual woild ol Vailunila, 2. Taiasila-salii, ilc maiginal poicncy, oi individual spiiii souls, wlo aic lilc spails ol ilc Supicmc Wlolc, and 3. laliianga-salii, ilc cxicinal poicncy lnown as maya, wlicl is incii maiici, ilc unmanilcsicd siagc (piadlana) ol ilc modcs ol naiuic. Tlcsc ilicc poicncics ol ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Visnu Puiana (6.7.61-63):20 Howcvci, ilcic is anoilci cncigy, callcd illusion, wlicl consisis ol liuiiivc aciiviiy. Tlai is ilc Loid's iliid poicncy.`21 Tlis living cniiiy, covcicd by ilc inllucncc ol ncscicncc, cxisis in dillcicni loims in ilc maiciial cncigy, io gicaici oi lcssci dcgiccs.`22 In ilis vcisc ilc woids 'avidya-laima' mcan 'ilc poicncy ilai bcwildcis', and ilc woid 'samjna' (namcd) idcniilics ilai poicncy as ilc illusoiy poicncy, maya. Alilougl ilc maya poicncy is cxicinal and inlciioi io ilc maiginal poicncy, oi individual living souls, ncvciilclcss, ilc cxicinal poicncy las ilc powci io covci and bcwildci ilc maiginal poicncy. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc ncxi vcisc, wlcic ilc woid 'iaiaiamycna' dcsciibcs ilc cxicinal poicncy's abiliiy io placc ilc individual spiiii-souls in vaiious liglci and lowci maiciial bodics, cxicnding liom ilc body ol ilc dcmigod lialma down io ilc insignilicani bodics ol planis and oilci non-moving cicaiuics. Tlis powci ol ilc cxicinal poicncy ovci ilc maiginal poicncy is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad-llagavaiam (1.7.5):Tlc individual living cniiiics (jivas) aic placcd in illusion by ilc cxicinal poicncy, maya.`23 In ilis vcisc (1.7.5) ilc woid 'yay' iclcis io ilc Loid's inconccivablc illusoiy poicncy maya, by wlosc inllucncc ilc unmanilcsicd modcs ol maiciial naiuic (piadlana) aic incii, unconscious and consianily muiablc. Tlai ilc piadlana is manilcsicd liom ilc maya-poicncy wc slall dcmonsiiaic laici on in ilis bool. Tlc ilicc poicncics: aiaianga, iaiasila and baliianga, aic similai in many bui noi all icspccis. Lacl las disiinguisling lcaiuics, and cacl las somc dclccis noi picscni in ilc oilcis.Anuccheda 171 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici ol all spiiiiual and maiciial poicncics. Lvcn Hiianyalasipu conliims ilis in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.3.3+):Lci mc ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilc Supicmc, wlo posscsscs cxicinal and inicinal cncigics.`Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is spiiiiual in naiuic and Hc is ilc slclici ol innumciablc spiiiiual poicncics (ilc individual living cniiiics). Hc is lilc ilc sun-planci, wlicl by naiuic consisis ol ligli, and wlicl is ilc slclici ol innumciablc iays ol ligli, wlicl lavc ilc samc naiuic as ilc sun-planci iiscll. Tlc maiginal spiiiiual poicncy lnown as jiva-salii, oi ilc individual spiiiiual cniiiics, will bc cxplaincd in ilc ncxi iicaiisc, ilc Paiamaima-sandaibla.2 In ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Visnu Puiana (1.19.76-77) ilc aniaianga-salii (inicinal poicncy) is dcsciibcd by coniiasiing ii wiil ilc baliianga-salii (cxicinal, maiciial poicncy):O Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, O masici ol ilc dcmigods, O Supcisoul picscni in ilc lcaiis ol all cicaiuics, I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io Youi inlciioi maiciial poicncy, wlicl is cicinal, and wlicl is ilc icsiing placc loi ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. O Loid, I also ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io Youi inicinal, spiiiiual poicncy, wlicl las no maiciial aiiiibuics, and wlicl cannoi bc undcisiood by ilc maiciial mind oi maiciial woids, bui only by ilc siaicmcnis ol ilc advanccd iiansccndcnialisis.`Wc may noic ilai ilc Loid posscsscs innumciablc spiiiiual poicncics. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.S):Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici ol muliilaiious supciioi spiiiiual poicncics.`Anuccheda 181 In ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad-llagavaiam (2.9.3+), ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcsciibcs ilc cxicinal, maiciial poicncy, baliianga-salii, in ilc lollowing woids:O lialma, wlaicvci appcais io bc ol any valuc, il ii is wiiloui iclaiion io Mc, las no icaliiy. Know ii as My illusoiy cncigy, ilai icllcciion wlicl appcais io bc in dailncss.`2 In ilc liisi paii ol ilis vcisc, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad says:O lialma wlaicvci appcais io bc ol any valuc, il ii is wiiloui iclaiion io Mc, las no icaliiy.`3 In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'aimanal' mcans 'ol Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad`, and ilc woid 'maya' iclcis io iwo poicncics ol ilc Loid: ilc baliianga-salii, oi maiciial cncigy maya, and ilc iaiasila-salii, oi individual spiiii souls. Inicipicicd in iclaiion io ilc individual spiiii souls, ilc woid 'ablasa' mcans 'cllulgcncc'. In oilci woids, ilc individual spiiii souls aic lilcncd io paiiiclcs ol ligli cmanaiing liom ilc supicmc sun ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.Il ilc woid 'maya' is ialcn io mcan ilc baliianga-salii, ilcn ilc woid 'ablasa' may bc undcisiood io mcan 'illusion'. Tlc illusoiy poicncy picscnis a gicai vaiiciy ol consianily clanging loims ol ilc incii maiciial cncigy, wlicl bcwildcis ilc condiiioncd souls by picscniing bcloic ilcii cycs a gicai vaiiciy ol icmpoiaiy and consianily clanging loims ol ilc incii and unconscious maiciial cncigy, oi ilicc modcs ol naiuic, goodncss, passion and ignoiancc. Tlc woid 'ablasa' is uscd in ilis way, io mcan ilc maiciial cosmos, in Siimad llagavaiam (2.10.7 ablasas ca niiodlas ca). Tlc woid 'ablasa' is also dcsciibcd in Visnu Puiana 1.22.5+ (quoicd in Anucclcda 16, Tcxi 17).+ Tlc Loid's poicncics aic also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni spolcn by ilc sclolais ol ilc Ayui-Vcda:Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlosc dcsiics aic auiomaiically lullillcd, is ilc oiiginal cicaioi ol ilc maiciial univciscs. His loim is cicinal and lull ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, and His cicinal iiansccndcnial poicncy cmanaics liom Him as paiiiclcs ol ligli liom ilc sun. As an acioi, wlo clangcs lis appcaiancc wlcn lc cnicis ilc siagc, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad appcais in ilc loim ol ilc Supcisoul wlcn Hc cnicis ilc maiciial icalm. Hc aciivaics ilc incii maiciial cncigy, and in ilis way causcs ilc cicaiion ol ilc maiciial univciscs.`5 In ilc liisi paii ol ilc vcisc, wlcic ilc Loid's 'maya' is dcsciibcd as 'ablasa', ilc woid 'ablasa' may bc inicipicicd in iwo dillcicni ways in oidci io maicl ilc iwo inicipiciaiions ol ilc woid 'maya' (wlicl may mcan ciilci ilc individual spiiii souls oi ilc cxicinal maiciial cncigy). In ilc sccond paii ol ilc vcisc, wlcic ilc 'ablasa' is dcsciibcd as icllccicd on ilc 'iamal' (dailncss), ilcic is no nccd io inicipici ilc woid 'iamal' in iwo dillcicni ways in oidci io lii ilc iwo inicipiciaiions ol ilc woids 'maya' and ablasa'. Tlc singlc mcaning 'dailncss' naiuially liis ilc iwo possiblc inicipiciaiions ol ilc vcisc.6 Tlc dailncss (iamal) ol ilc maiciial cosmos is dcsciibcd as cicaicd by ilc Loid's sladow. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.20.1S), wlcic Maiiicya Muni says io Viduia:Iiisi ol all, lialma cicaicd liom lis sladow ilc covciings ol ignoiancc ol ilc condiiioncd souls. Tlcy aic livc in numbci and aic callcd iamisia, andla-iamisia, iamas, mola and malamola.`7 Tlc maiciial woild is also compaicd io dailncss (iamal) in ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.11) wlcic Loid lialma says io Loid Kisna:Wlcic am I, a small cicaiuic ol scvcn spans ilc mcasuic ol my own land' I am cncloscd in ilc univcisc composcd ol maiciial naiuic, ilc ioial maiciial cncigy, lalsc cgo, cilci, aii, waici and caiil. And wlai is Youi gloiy' Unlimiicd univciscs pass iliougl ilc poics ol Youi body jusi lilc paiiiclcs ol dusi passing iliougl ilc opcning ol a window.`S Tlis vcisc (3.20.1S quoicd in icxi S) cxplains ilai lialma, using ilc insiiumcni ol ilc sladow poicncy (claya-salii) manilcsicd 'avidya' ai ilc iimc ol cicaiing ilc maiciial univcisc. Tlc woid 'avidya' lcic may iclci ciilci io ilc dillcicni classcs ol condiiioncd souls (jiva-maya) oi io ilc dillcicni manilcsiaiions ol ilc modcs ol naiuic (guna-maya).9 Tlc dillcicncc bciwccn ilc avidya-salii (ignoiancc poicncy) and vidya-salii (lnowlcdgc poicncy) is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad-llagavaiam (11.11.3) wlcic Loid Kisna says:O Uddlava, boil lnowlcdgc and ignoiancc, bcing pioducis ol maya, aic cxpansions ol My poicncy. loil lnowlcdgc and ignoiancc aic bcginninglcss and pcipciually awaid libciaiion and bondagc io cmbodicd living bcings.`10 Tlc lnowlcdgc poicncy is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vciscs ol ilc Padma Puiana (Uiiaia-llanda 73.230-231) in ilc Kaiiiila-malaimya, in conncciion wiil ilc piaycis ol ilc dcmigods io Maya, wlicl aic iclaicd by Loid Kisna io Saiyablama-dcvi:As ilc dcmigods wcic ollciing piaycis in ilis way, ilcy saw a poiiion ol ilc sly bccomc vciy biilliani wiil a gicai ligli. Iiom ilai cllulgcni paii ol ilc sly ilcy lcaid ilc goddcss Saiasvaii spcal ilc lollowing woids: 'I appcai in ilis maiciial woild in ilicc ways, in iclaiion io ilc ilicc modcs ol goodncss, passion, and ignoiancc.'`11 Tlc ignoiancc-poicncy (avidya-salii) is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda (91.51) wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad says io Loid lialma:Tlc dcnsc dailncss ol ilc ignoiancc poicncy in ilis maiciial woild is immcasuiablc and incxlausiablc.`Anuccheda 191 Tlc inicinal spiiiiual poicncy (aniaianga-salii), wiiloui wlosc lclp ilc individual living cniiiics aic powcilcss io aci, is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs ol Siimad-llagavaiam (6.16.23-2+), wlcic Naiada Muni says io Malaiaja Ciiialciu:2 Tlc Supicmc lialman cmanaics liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and cxpands lilc ilc sly. Alilougl uniouclcd by anyiling maiciial, ii cxisis wiilin and wiiloui. Noncilclcss, ilc mind, iniclligcncc, scnscs and living loicc can nciilci ioucl Him noi lnow Him. I ollci unio Him my icspccilul obcisanccs.`3 As iion las ilc powci io buin wlcn madc icd-loi in ilc associaiion ol liic, so ilc body, scnscs, living loicc, mind and iniclligcncc, alilougl mcicly lumps ol maiici, can lunciion in ilcii aciiviiics wlcn inluscd wiil a paiiiclc ol consciousncss by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. As iion cannoi buin unlcss lcaicd by liic, ilc bodily scnscs cannoi aci unlcss lavouicd by ilc Supicmc lialman.`+ Siidlaia Svami commcnis on ilcsc vciscs in ilc lollowing woids:In ilc liisi vcisc (6.16.23) Naiada said: Tlc Supicmc lialman (yai) cmanaics liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and cxpands lilc ilc sly (viiaiam vyomavai). Noncilclcss, ilc living loicc (asaval) can nciilci ioucl lim (na spisaii) by using ilc insiiumcni ol liiya-salii, noi can ilc mind, iniclligcncc and scnscs lnow Him (na vidul) by using ilc insiiumcni ol jnana-salii. I ollci unio Him my icspccilul obcisanccs (naio smi). Tlc icason ilc mind, iniclligcncc, scnscs and living loicc cannoi undcisiand ilc Supicmc lialman is cxplaincd in ilc ncxi vcisc (6.16.2+), wlcic Naiada says: 'Tlc body, scnscs, living loicc, mind and iniclligcncc, alilougl mcicly lumps ol maiici, can lunciion in ilcii aciiviiics (laimasu) wlcn inluscd by a paiiiclc ol consciousncss (ami yad-amsa-viddlal) by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.` Wiiloui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's inicivcniion, ilcy cannoi aci ciilci in ilc siaics ol walclulncss, dicaming, dccp-slccp, unconsciousncss, oi any oilci condiiion ol lilc. In oidci io cxplain ilc scnscs' dcpcndcncc on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Naiada givcs ilc lollowing cxamplc: 'As iion cannoi buin unlcss lcaicd by liic (apiaiapiam laulam), ilc bodily scnscs cannoi aci unlcss lavouicd by ilc Supicmc lialman.' A icd-loi iion iod gci iis buining poicncy liom liic, and alilougl ii can buin many objccis, ii cannoi buin liic iiscll. In ilc samc way, bccausc ilc maiciial body, scnscs, living loicc, mind and iniclligcncc ol ilc living cniiiics lavc obiaincd ilcii powcis io aci (liiya-salii) and undcisiand (jnana-salii) liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, alilougl ilcy may bc ablc io ioucl oi undcisiand many ilings, ilcy aic unablc io ioucl oi undcisiand ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc souicc ol all ilcii powci.`5 Tlai ilc scnscs aic dcpcndcni on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad loi ilcii powcis is conliimcd by cvcn Sanlaiacaiya, ilc lcadci ol ilc impcisonalisis, wlo in ilc couisc ol icluiing ilc ailcisiic Sanllya plilosoply said (Saiiiala-blasya 1.1.5):Tlc maiciial cycs lavc ilc powci io scc bccausc ii is givcn io ilcm by ilc Supicmc. As an iion iod oi similai objcci obiains ilc powci io buin by bcing placcd ncai a liic, so ilc scnscs obiain ilc powci io aci liom ilc Supicmc. Tlc omniscicni Supicmc Tiuil is ilc piimaiy causc ol ilc cniiic maiciial cosmos.`6 Tlai ilc scnscs aic dcpcndcni on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcnis ol ilc Upanisads:Wlcn ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad appcais, ilcn ilc vaiious dillcicni plancis may also bccomc manilcsicd. Tlcy cannoi appcai unlcss Hc appcais liisi.`Kaila Upanisad 2.2.15, Mundala Upanisad 2.2.10and Svciasvaiaia Upanisad 6.1+Unlcss ilc supicmcly blisslul Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is picscni wiilin ilc sly ol ilc lcaii, wlai living cniiiy las ilc powci io do anyiling, oi cvcn io icmain alivc'`Taiiiaiiya Upanisad 2.7.1Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad gianis ilc powci ol sigli io ilc cycs and ilc powci ol lcaiing io ilc cais ol ilc individual living cniiiics.`lilad-aianyala Upanisad +.+.1S7 In ilc concluding poiiion ol lis commcniaiy on ilis vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 6.16.2+) Siidlaia Svami says:Ai ilis poini somconc may say: 'All iigli, ilc scnscs cannoi aci indcpcndcnily, only ilc individual spiiii soul is ilc scci and ilc lnowci ol wlai is cxpciicnccd by ilc scnscs.' To ilis I icply; 'No, no, in all siaics ol bcing, wlcilci awalc, dicaming, oi dccply aslccp, ilc individual living cniiiy is dcpcndcni on ilc Supicmc. Wiiloui ilc mcicy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc individual spiiii soul cannoi scc oi pciccivc anyiling wiil any onc ol lis scnscs (na diasiiapadcsam cii). Tlis is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol lilad-aianyala Upanisad (3.7.23): 'Wiiloui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's mcicy, no onc can scc anyiling.'Anoilci way io inicipici ilc woids no diasiiapadcsam cii is io acccpi ilcm as mcaning: 'Alilougl ilc scnscs ol ilc individual living cniiiy can pciccivc vaiious ilings, undci noimal condiiions ilcy cannoi pciccivc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc souicc ol ilcii powci.'`S Tlai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc oiigin ol all scnsoiy pciccpiion is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad-llagavaiam (2.10.9):All ilicc ol ilc abovc-mcniioncd siagcs ol dillcicni living cniiiics aic inicidcpcndcni. In ilc abscncc ol onc, anoilci is noi undcisiood. lui ilc Supicmc lcing wlo sccs cvciy onc ol ilcm as ilc slclici ol ilc slclici is indcpcndcni ol all, and ilcicloic Hc is ilc supicmc slclici.`9 In vaiious placcs in ilc Siuii-sasiia also ii is conliimcd ilai ilc individual living cniiiics (jivas) aic ncvci indcpcndcni ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy o Godlcad. Hc is ilc oiiginal scci ol cvciyiling, and no onc can scc anyiling wiiloui His mcicy. In ilis way ilcsc vciscs (6.16.23-2+) may bc undcisiood.Anuccheda 201 Tlai ilc scnscs ol ilc condiiioncd souls cannoi pciccivc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wlo is ilc souicc ol ilcii powci is conliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (6.+.25) wlcic Malaiaja Dalsa says:lccausc ilcy aic only maiici, ilc body, ilc lilc aiis, ilc cxicinal and inicinal scnscs, ilc livc gioss clcmcnis and ilc subilc scnsc objccis (loim, iasic, smcll, sound and ioucl) cannoi lnow ilcii own naiuic, ilc naiuic ol ilc oilci scnscs oi ilc naiuic ol ilcii coniiollcis. lui ilc living bcing, bccausc ol lis spiiiiual naiuic, can lnow lis body, ilc lilc aiis, ilc scnscs, ilc clcmcnis and ilc scnsc objccis, and lc can also lnow ilc ilicc qualiiics ilai loim ilcii ioois. Ncvciilclcss, alilougl ilc living bcing is complcicly awaic ol ilcm, lc is unablc io scc ilc Supicmc lcing, wlo is omniscicni and unlimiicd. I ilcicloic ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio Him.`2 In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'piana' mcans 'lilc-aiis', 'alsal' mcans 'ilc scnscs', 'manaval' mcans 'ilc mind', 'bluia-maiiam' mcans 'ilc ian-maiias', 'aimanam' mcans 'ilcmsclvcs', 'anyam' mcans 'oilci aicas ol pciccpiion'. Tlc dcmigods wlo aic bcyond (paiam) ilcsc iwo ilcy do noi lnow. Tlcsc ilings ilcy do noi lnow (na vidul). 'Puman` mcans ilc living bcing`, 'saivam' mcans 'ilcmsclvcs and wlaicvci is bcyond ilcmsclvcs'. lcyond ilcmsclvcs (paiam) aic ilc maiciial body, ilings in iclaiion io ilc body, and ilc coniiolling dcmigods. Tlis ilc living cniiiy lnows (vcda). 'Gunams ca' mcans 'ilc modc ol goodncss and ilc oilci maiciial modcs', wlicl aic ilc iooi liom wlicl ilc maiciial bodics and oilci maiciial ilings lavc giown. Lvcn ilougl ilc living cniiiy lnows all ilcsc (iaj-jnal) lc siill docs noi lnow (na vcda) ilc saivajna. Saivajna lcic mcans Hc wlo lnows ilc living cniiiics and cvciyiling clsc also.' Tlc woid 'ananiam' is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.1S.19):Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, unlimiicd, in poicncy and iiansccndcnial by aiiiibuics, is callcd ilc anania (Unlimiicd).`Tlc spcalci ilcn says: I woislip (idc) ilc unlimiicdly powcilul Supicmc Loid.`3 In conncciion wiil ilc siaicmcni ilai ilc individual cniiiy is unablc io scc ilc Supicmc ilc lilad-aianyala Upanisad (+.5.15) says:Tlcic (in ilc maiciial woild ol dualiiy) ilc individual living cniiiy sccs ilc Supicmc as dillcicni liom limscll.'In ilcsc woids is dcsciibcd low ilc individual spiiii soul sccs limscll as dillcicni liom ilc Supicmc. Tlc Upanisad ilcn says:Wlcn lc sccs ilai cvciyiling is ilc Supicmc Soul, ilcn low, oi wlai will lc scc (ilai is dillcicni liom limscll)'`Tlcn ilc living cniiiy docs noi scc ilc Supicmc Soul as ilc obscivci, bui iailci lc sccs ilai cvciyiling is ilc obscivci ol ilc Supicmc Soul and ilai wlai lc sccs is limscll.`Tlcn ilc Upanisad says:How can lc lnow ilc lnowci'`An cxplanaiion ol ilc mcaning ol ilcsc passagcs lollows. In ilcsc siaicmcnis ilc woid 'yaiia' mcans 'in ilc illusoiy poicncy, maya, wlcic dualiiy is manilcsicd.' Undci ilc inllucncc ol ilc inconccivablc poicncy namcd maya, and undci ilc inllucncc ol ilc icmpoiaiy woild ol ilc coniaminaiion ol maiici, wlai is noi dillcicni is pciccivcd io bc dillcicni. lccausc ol ilis inllucncc ilc individual spiiii soul is boin again and again as il lc wcic indcpcndcni and scpaiaic. In ilis way ilc 'scpaiaic' (iiaial) living cniiiy sccs oilcis as 'scpaiaic' (iiaiam). Hc is ablc io scc oilcis as scpaiaic bccausc ilc insiiumcni ol sccing and ilc objcci ol vision aic boil suiiablc loi ilis lind ol vision. Tlai is ilc mcaning.Tlc woid 'yaiia' lcic mcans 'in His pcisonal poicncy'. Tlc individual soul, oi jiva lcic is compaicd io a paiiiclc ol ligli, and ilc Supicmc Soul, dcsciibcd lcic as ilc 'aima', is compaicd io ilc sun-globc. Tlc woids 'saivam ablui' mcan ilai cvciyiling is manilcsicd by ilc Loid's pcisonal poicncy. Lvciyiling cxisis liom bcginninglcss iimc. Ii is noi manilcsi only in ilai cniiancc ai ilai iimc. Wlai (lam) and by wlai scpaiaic (iiaicna) mcilod (lcna) can ilc scpaiaic (iiaial) individual soul (jiva) scc' Hc cannoi scc anyiling by any sucl mcilod. Tlai is ilc mcaning. ly ilcii own powci individual iays ol ligli cannoi display ilc splcndoui manilcsi in ilc sun iiscll and nciilci can individual spails buin a liic. Tlai is ilc mcaning. ly wlai scpaiaic mcilod may onc undcisiand ilc omniscicni (vijnaiaiam), unlimiicd, omnipoicni Supicmc Soul' Tlcic is no scpaiaic mcilod io undcisiand Him. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Wlcn ilc jnana-salii is manilcsi, ilcn ilc liiya-salii and iccla-salii aic also sccn. Tlc vcisc quoicd in Tcxi 1 was spolcn by Malaiaja Dalsa io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol GodlcadAnuccheda 21Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is always in lull coniiol ol His vaiious poicncics. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (7.9.22) wlcic Piallada Malaiaja says io Loid Nisimladcva:My dcai Loid, O supicmc gicai, You lavc cicaicd ilis maiciial woild ol sixiccn consiiiucnis, bui You aic iiansccndcnial io ilcii maiciial qualiiics. In oilci woids, ilcsc maiciial qualiiics aic undci Youi lull coniiol, and You aic ncvci conqucicd by ilcm. Tlcicloic ilc iimc clcmcni is Youi icpicscniaiion. My Loid, O Supicmc, no onc can conquci You. As loi mc, lowcvci, I am bcing ciuslcd by ilc wlccl ol iimc, and ilcicloic I suiicndci lully unio You. Now lindly ialc mc undci ilc pioicciion ol Youi loius lcci.`Siidlaia Svami cxplains ilai ilc woid 'sva-dlamna' mcans 'by Youi pcisonal spiiiiual cncigy', and 'lala' mcans 'ilc iimc clcmcni, wlicl cicaics ilc maiciial manilcsiaiion, oi maya.' 'Aima' lcic mcans 'ilc individual living cniiiics', and 'guna' mcans ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic (goodncss, passion, and ignoiancc). Alilougl ilc individual living cniiiics may comc undci ilc coniiol ol ilc modcs ol naiuic, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvci coniiollcd by ilcm. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.25.12) wlcic ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad says:Tlc individual living cniiiics may comc undci ilc coniiol ol goodncss, passion and ignoiancc, bui I am ncvci coniiollcd by ilcm.`Anuccheda 221 Tlai ilc Supicmc Loid's poicncics aic always undci His lull coniiol is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (5.1S.3S), wlcic ilc Laiil-dciiy says io Loid Vaiala:O Loid, You do noi dcsiic ilc cicaiion, mainicnancc oi annililaiion ol ilis maiciial woild, bui You pciloim ilcsc aciiviiics loi ilc condiiioncd souls by Youi cicaiivc cncigy. Lxacily as a piccc ol iion movcs undci ilc inllucncc ol a lodcsionc, incii maiici movcs wlcn You glancc ovci ilc ioial maiciial cncigy.`2 Siidlaia S