Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa’s Energies

It may be noted at this point that the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā is especially meant for those who have already accepted Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, it is meant for His devotees. If one does not accept Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme, this Ninth Chapter will appear as something different from what it actually is. As stated in the beginning, the subject matter of the Ninth Chapter is the most confidential material in the entire Bhagavad-gītā. If one doesn’t accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme, he will think the chapter to be a mere exaggeration. This is especially the case with the verses dealing with Kṛṣṇa’s relationship with His creation. 

Bg. 9.4

मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना ।
मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः ॥४॥

Text

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ
jagad avyakta-mūrtinā
mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni
na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ

Synonyms

mayāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmaya

consisting of; made of; O Maya.—by Me; tatamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtatam

distributed; expanded; is pervaded; pervaded; spread; spread throughout; the father; widespread.—spread; idamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigidam

all of this cosmic manifestation; all these; all these manifestations; all these phenomena; all these planets; all these things; all this; as it is; here; in their own measurement; in this material world; in this way; in this world; is this; like this; on this (as follows); on this (path); the cosmic manifestation is produced; the following; the following words; the universe rests; the whole; the whole universe; these; these words; this (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam); this (all the land given to them); this (body); this (cosmic manifestation); this (creation); this (life); this (material body); this (material world); this (news); this (the body and senses); this (universe); this (world); this; this body; this body of Brahmā; this cosmic manifestation; this cosmic manifestation is created and maintained; this creation; this description of the characteristics of Vāmanadeva; this entire cosmic manifestation; this entire universe; this glorification; this incident; this lamentation; this manifestation; this material attachment; this material world; this phenomenal world; this philosophy of life; this prayer; this present form; this ultimate abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; this universe; this Vedic literature (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam); this whole material world; this whole universe; this world; thus; whatever we can see; which we see.—all these manifestations; sarvamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarvam

all; all and everything; all of the body; all of them; all such sinful actions; all that be; all that is inquired; all these; all this; completely; each and every one of them; everything (he had obtained); everything; everything in detail; everything material; everywhere; fully; the sum total; the whole kingdom; the whole world; whole.—all; jagatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigjagat

all over the world; all that is animate or inanimate; all the worlds, both material and spiritual; cosmic manifestation; cosmic manifestation created by You; everything, animate and inanimate; in the universe; in this material world; material world; moving; moving entities; moving forward (this whole universe); of the complete creation; of the cosmic creations; of the cosmic manifestation; of the entire universe; of the material world; of the universe; of the whole universe; of the whole world; of the world; seen to be moving; the cosmic manifestation; the entire material world; the entire universe; the entire world; the material world; the universal; the universe; the whole material creation; the whole universe; the whole world; the world; the worlds; this world; throughout the whole universe; to the universe; universal; universe; whole universe; whole world; world.—cosmic manifestation; avyaktaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigavyakta

by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; from unmanifested nature; inconceivable; nonmanifested; the impersonal feature; the unmanifest; transcendental; unmanifested.-mūrtināplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmūrtinā

by such a feature.—unmanifested form; matplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmat

by me; for Me; from Me; having; Me; Mine; My; myself; of Me; possessing; than me; than Myself; to me; to Myself; under My; unto Me (Kṛṣṇa); unto Me.-sthāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthāni

situated.—unto Me; sarvaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarva

all; all around; all kinds; all kinds of; all over; everyone; everything; for all; for everyone; in all; in all respects; of all; of all demigods; of all kinds; of everyone; of everything.-bhūtāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhūtāni

all beings; all created beings; all creation; all kinds of living entities; all living beings; all living entities; all people; all that are created; all the bodies of the living entities; all the living entities; all things; all this material manifestation; all those materially born; and the other living entities; created beings; different varieties of living entities; elements; entities; everything created; ghosts; living beings; living entities (that are born); living entities; living entities or servants; offspring; other living entities; personalities; persons; the living beings; the living entities (animals); the living entities; the material bodies; to ghosts and spirits; to living entities; unto the living entities in general; which are produced.—all living entities; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—not; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; ahamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigaham

as far as I am concerned; as I am; egotism; false ego; false identification (in the bodily concept of life); false identity; I ("I am this body"); I (am); I (Kṛṣṇa); I (Lord Brahmā); I (Lord Śiva); I (Prahlāda Mahārāja); I (the person desiring release from material life); I (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); I; I am; I am everything; I am independent; I am the material body; I myself; I, Lord Kṛṣṇa; I, the Personality of Godhead; I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; I, Yamarāja; me; my existence ("I am something"); my humble self; myself (Brahmājī); Myself; the word aham; the wrong mental conception.—I; teṣuplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigteṣu

all living entities; among the different types of bodies (demigod, human, animal, bird, etc.); among them; in each of them; in sense gratification; in such sacrifices; in the sense objects; in them; in those; in those hellish planets; in those houses; in those same places; in those tracts of land; of them; out of them; those; to them; unto them (the visitors); unto them; with those; within them; within themselves.—in them; avasthitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigavasthitah

being situated; situated; standing; staying (a householder generally stays home with his wife and children).—situated. 

Translation

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. 

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not perceivable through the gross material senses. It is said that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name, fame, pastimes, etc., cannot be understood by material senses. Only to one who is engaged in pure devotional service under proper guidance is He revealed. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is stated, premāñjanacchurita…. One can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, always within himself and outside himself if he has developed the transcendental loving attitude towards Him. Thus for people in general He is not visible. Here it is said that although He is all-pervading, everywhere present, He is yet not conceivable by the material senses. But actually, although we cannot see Him, everything is resting in Him. As we have discussed in the Seventh Chapter, the entire material cosmic manifestation is only a combination of His two different energies, the superior spiritual energy and the inferior material energy. Just as the sunshine is spread all over the universe, the energy of the Lord is spread all over the creation, and everything is resting in that energy. 

Yet one should not conclude that because He is spread all over He has lost His personal existence. To refute such argument the Lord says, “I am everywhere, and everything is in Me, but still I am aloof.” For example, a king heads a government which is but the manifestation of the king’s energy; the different governmental departments are nothing but the energies of the king, and each department is resting on the king’s power. But still one cannot expect the king to be present in every department personally. That is a crude example. Similarly, all the manifestations that we see, and everything that exists both in this material world and in the spiritual world, are resting on the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The creation takes place by the diffusion of His different energies, and, as is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, He is everywhere present by His personal representation, the diffusion of His different energies. 

“By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.” (Bg. 9.4)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.4

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. 

The world which we see is also Kṛṣṇa’s energy, His māyā. Here, mayā means “by Me,” as if one says, “This work has been done by me.” This “by Me” does not mean that He has done His work and has finished or retired. If I start a large factory and I say, “This factory was started by me,” in no case should it be concluded that I am lost or in any way not present. Although a manufacturer may refer to his products as being “manufactured by me,” it does not mean that he personally created or constructed his product, but that the product was produced by his energy. Similarly, if Kṛṣṇa says, “Whatever you see in the world was created by Me,” we are not to suppose that He is no longer existing. 

It is not very difficult to see God everywhere in the creation, for He is everywhere present. Just as in the Ford factory the workers see Mr. Ford in every corner, those who are conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa can see Him in every atom of the creation. Everything is resting on Kṛṣṇa (mat-sthāni sarva bhūtāni [Bg. 9.4]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.4

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.), but Kṛṣṇa is not there (na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ). Kṛṣṇa and His energy are non-different, yet the energy is not Kṛṣṇa. The sun and the sunshine are not different, but the sunshine is not the sun. The sunshine may come through our window and enter our room, but this is not to say that the sun is in our room. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa states: parasya brāhmaṇaḥ śaktiḥ: parasya means supreme, brāhmaṇaḥ means Absolute Truth, and śaktiḥ means energy. The energy of the Supreme Absolute is everything, but in that energy Kṛṣṇa is not to be found. 

There are two kinds of energy—material and spiritual. Jīvas, or individual souls, belong to the superior energy of Kṛṣṇa, but because they are prone to be attracted to the material energy, they are called marginal energy. But actually there are only two energies. All of the planetary systems and universes are resting on the energies of Kṛṣṇa. Just as all the planets in the solar system are resting in the sunshine, everything within the creation is resting on Kṛṣṇa-shine. All of these potencies of the Lord give pleasure to a devotee, but one who is envious of Kṛṣṇa rejects them. When one is a nondevotee, the statements of Kṛṣṇa seem to be so much bluff, but when one is a devotee, he thinks, “Oh, my Lord is so powerful,” and he becomes filled with love and adoration. Nondevotees think that because Kṛṣṇa says, “I am God,” they and everyone else can say the same. But if asked to show their universal form, they cannot do it. That is the difference between a pseudo god and the real God. Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes cannot be imitated. Kṛṣṇa married over 16,000 wives and kept them nicely in 16,000 palaces, but an ordinary man cannot even keep one wife nicely. It is not that Kṛṣṇa just spoke so many wonderful things; He also acted wonderfully. We should not believe one thing that Kṛṣṇa says or does and reject another; if belief is there, it must be full belief. 

In this regard, there is a story of Nārada Muni, who was once asked by a brāhmaṇa: “Oh, you are going to meet the Lord? Will you please ask Him when I’m going to get my salvation?” 

“All right,” Nārada agreed. “I shall ask Him.” 

As Nārada proceeded, he met a cobbler who was sitting under a tree mending shoes, and the cobbler similarly asked Nārada, “Oh, you are going to see God? Will you please inquire of Him when my salvation will come?” 

When Nārada Muni went to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, he fulfilled their request and asked Nārāyaṇa (God) about the salvation of the brāhmaṇa and the cobbler, and Nārāyaṇa replied, “After leaving this body, the cobbler shall come here to me.” 

“What about the brāhmaṇa?” Nārada asked. 

“He will have to remain there for a number of births. I do not know when he is coming.” 

Nārada Muni was astonished, and he finally said, “I can’t understand the mystery of this.” 

“That you will see,” Nārāyaṇa said. “When they ask you what I am doing in My abode, tell them that I am threading the eye of a needle with an elephant.” 

When Nārada returned to earth and approached the brāhmaṇa, the brāhmaṇa said, “Oh, you have seen the Lord? What was He doing?” 

“He was threading an elephant through the eye of a needle,” Nārada answered. 

“I don’t believe such nonsense,” the brāhmaṇa replied. Nārada could immediately understand that the man had no faith and that he was simply a reader of books. 

Nārada then left and went on to the cobbler, who asked him, “Oh, you have seen the Lord? Tell me, what was He doing?” 

“He was threading an elephant through the eye of a needle,” Nārada replied. 

The cobbler began to weep, “Oh, my Lord is so wonderful, He can do anything.” 

“Do you really believe that the Lord can push an elephant through the hole of a needle?” Nārada asked. 

“Why not?” the cobbler said, “Of course I believe it.” 

“How is that?” 

“You can see that I am sitting under this banyan tree,” the cobbler answered, “and you can see that so many fruits are falling daily, and in each seed there is a banyan tree like this one. If, within a small seed there can be a big tree like this, is it difficult to accept that the Lord is pushing an elephant through the eye of a needle?” 

So this is called faith. It is not a question of blindly believing. There is reason behind the belief. If Kṛṣṇa can put a large tree within so many little seeds, is it so astounding that He is keeping all the planetary systems floating in space through His energy? 

Although scientists may think that the planets are being held in space simply by nature alone, behind nature there is the Supreme Lord. Nature is acting under His guidance. As Śrī Kṛṣṇa states: 

Bg. 9.10

मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम् ।
हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते ॥१०॥

Text

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

Synonyms

mayāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmaya

consisting of; made of; O Maya.—by Me; adhyakṣeṇaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigadhyakṣeṇa

by superintendence.—by superintendence; prakṛtiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprakrtih

energies; energy; material nature; natural state; nature; the cosmic manifestation; the influence of material nature; the material elements; the material energy or material nature; the material nature; whose nature.—material nature; sūyateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsūyate

manifest.—manifest; saplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsa

accompanied by; along with; he; her; that; with.—with; carācaramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigcarācaram

moving and nonmoving; moving and unmoving.—moving and nonmoving; hetunāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bighetunā

due to some cause; for this reason; ground; on account of.—for this reason; anenaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biganena

by Bali Mahārāja; by Him (Kṛṣṇa); by Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); by him; by Kṛṣṇa; by Lord Kṛṣṇa; by the gross body; by this; by this Kṛṣṇa; by this person; by this process; by this sacrifice; by this son; him; in this way; this; with this.—this; kaunteyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkaunteya

O son of Kuntī.—O son of Kuntī; jagatplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigjagat

all over the world; all that is animate or inanimate; all the worlds, both material and spiritual; cosmic manifestation; cosmic manifestation created by You; everything, animate and inanimate; in the universe; in this material world; material world; moving; moving entities; moving forward (this whole universe); of the complete creation; of the cosmic creations; of the cosmic manifestation; of the entire universe; of the material world; of the universe; of the whole universe; of the whole world; of the world; seen to be moving; the cosmic manifestation; the entire material world; the entire universe; the entire world; the material world; the universal; the universe; the whole material creation; the whole universe; the whole world; the world; the worlds; this world; throughout the whole universe; to the universe; universal; universe; whole universe; whole world; world.—the cosmic manifestation; viparivartateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigviparivartate

is working.—is working. 

Translation

This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. 

Purport

It is clearly stated here that the Supreme Lord, although aloof from all the activities of the material world, remains the supreme director. The Supreme Lord is the supreme will and the background of this material manifestation, but the management is being conducted by material nature. Kṛṣṇa also states in Bhagavad-gītā that of all the living entities in different forms and species, “I am the Father.” The father gives seeds to the womb of the mother for the child, and similarly the Supreme Lord by His mere glance injects all the living entities into the womb of material nature, and they come out in their different forms and species, according to their last desires and activities. All these living entities, although born under the glance of the Supreme Lord, still take their different bodies according to their past deeds and desires. So the Lord is not directly attached to this material creation. He simply glances over material nature; material nature is thus activated, and everything is created immediately. Because He glances over material nature, there is undoubtedly activity on the part of the Supreme Lord, but He has nothing to do with the manifestation of the material world directly. This example is given in the smṛti: when there is a fragrant flower before someone, the fragrance is touched by the smelling power of the person, yet the smelling and the flower are detached from one another. There is a similar connection between the material world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; actually He has nothing to do with this material world, but He creates by His glance and ordains. In summary, material nature, without the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot do anything. Yet the Supreme Personality is detached from all material activities. 

“This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is being created and annihilated again and again.” (Bg. 9.10)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.10

This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. 

Mayādhyakṣena means “under My supervision.” Material nature cannot act so wonderfully unless the Lord’s hand is behind it. We cannot give any example of material things automatically working. Matter is inert, and without the spiritual touch there is no possibility of its acting. Matter cannot act independently or automatically. Machines may be very wonderfully constructed, but unless a man touches that machine, it cannot work. And what is that man? He is a spiritual spark. Without spiritual touch, nothing can move; therefore everything is resting on Kṛṣṇa’s impersonal energy. Kṛṣṇa’s energy is impersonal, but He is a person. We often hear of persons performing wonderful actions, yet despite their energetic accomplishments, they still remain persons. If this is possible for human beings, why isn’t it possible for the Supreme Lord? We are all persons, but we are all dependent upon Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person. 

We have often seen pictures of Atlas, a stout man bearing a large planet on his shoulders and struggling very hard to hold it up. We may think that because Kṛṣṇa is maintaining the universe, He is struggling under its burden like Atlas. But this is not the case. 

Bg. 9.5

न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ।
भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः ॥५॥

Text

na ca mat-sthāni bhūtāni
paśya me yogam aiśvaram
bhūta-bhṛn na ca bhūta-stho
mamātmā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

Synonyms

naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; matplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmat

by me; for Me; from Me; having; Me; Mine; My; myself; of Me; possessing; than me; than Myself; to me; to Myself; under My; unto Me (Kṛṣṇa); unto Me.-sthāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthāni

situated.—situated in Me; bhūtāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhūtāni

all beings; all created beings; all creation; all kinds of living entities; all living beings; all living entities; all people; all that are created; all the bodies of the living entities; all the living entities; all things; all this material manifestation; all those materially born; and the other living entities; created beings; different varieties of living entities; elements; entities; everything created; ghosts; living beings; living entities (that are born); living entities; living entities or servants; offspring; other living entities; personalities; persons; the living beings; the living entities (animals); the living entities; the material bodies; to ghosts and spirits; to living entities; unto the living entities in general; which are produced.—all creation; paśyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpaśya

behold; just behold; just see; look; please see; see; see here; there see.—just see; meplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigme

about me; by me; executed by me; for me; from Me; Me; mind; mine; my; my duty; myself; of me (Hiraṇyakaśipu); of me; of Mine; of Myself; on me; to Me; unto me; upon me; with me.—My; yogamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyogam

yoga; yoga system; absorption, trance; action in devotion; contact; devotional service; in yoga; linking with the Supreme; meditation; mystic yoga; mystic power; mystic powers; mysticism; self-realization; service; spiritual knowledge; the device; the eightfold yoga system; the mystic yoga system; the mystic performances; the mystic process; the process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the science of one's relationship to the Supreme; Yoga; yoga practice; yogic power. aiśvaramplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigaiśvaram

bringing understanding of God, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness; divine; of great personalities like Lord Śiva and the great sage Saubhari; opulences; supremacy; transcendental.—inconceivable mystic power; bhūtaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhuta

all living entities; all that is created or born; an ordinary ghost; and of the Bhūtas; body; by other living entities; by the five material elements; created; creation; ego; elements; everything that be; evil spirits; ghost; ghosts; ghosts named Bhūtas; gross material elements; jinn; living entities; living entity; material elements; material ingredients; of all existence; of different nations; of living entities; of ordinary living entities; of the living beings; of the living entities; of the material elements; other living beings; other living entities; past; the evil spirits; the five elements; the five gross elements (the sky, etc.); the five gross elements; the five material elements; the ghost; the gross; the gross elements; the material elements; the material energy; the physical elements; to other living entities; with all the gross material elements.-bhṛtplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhṛt

becomes.—maintainer of all living entities; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—never; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; bhūtaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhuta

all living entities; all that is created or born; an ordinary ghost; and of the Bhūtas; body; by other living entities; by the five material elements; created; creation; ego; elements; everything that be; evil spirits; ghost; ghosts; ghosts named Bhūtas; gross material elements; jinn; living entities; living entity; material elements; material ingredients; of all existence; of different nations; of living entities; of ordinary living entities; of the living beings; of the living entities; of the material elements; other living beings; other living entities; past; the evil spirits; the five elements; the five gross elements (the sky, etc.); the five gross elements; the five material elements; the ghost; the gross; the gross elements; the material elements; the material energy; the physical elements; to other living entities; with all the gross material elements.-sthaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthah

situated.—in the cosmic manifestation; mamaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmama

by me; by Me personally; false conception; for me; for myself; from me; it is mine; me; mind; mine ("everything in relationship with this body is mine"); Mine; my (my land, my country, my family, my community, my religion); my; of Me; of Mine; of My; that; to Me; toward me; unto me; with me.—My; ātmāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigatma

and of the soul; and of the Supersoul (Paramātmā); and the mind; body; by a manifestation of Yourself; by the body and mind; by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; by themselves; by Yourself; heart; Himself; his; in Himself; in the body; in the living entities; into the self; living being; mind; of all living entities; of Himself; of one's self; of spiritual knowledge; of the mind; of the mind and senses; of the soul; of the Supreme; one's own; own; personal; self; self-realized; soul; spirit; Supersoul; the body and mind; the devotees are the Lord's heart and soul; the mind; the mind and body; the self; the spirit; the Supersoul; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Supreme Self; the tree of work; to the body; upon the Supersoul; within; Yourself; ātmā.—Self; bhūtaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhuta

all living entities; all that is created or born; an ordinary ghost; and of the Bhūtas; body; by other living entities; by the five material elements; created; creation; ego; elements; everything that be; evil spirits; ghost; ghosts; ghosts named Bhūtas; gross material elements; jinn; living entities; living entity; material elements; material ingredients; of all existence; of different nations; of living entities; of ordinary living entities; of the living beings; of the living entities; of the material elements; other living beings; other living entities; past; the evil spirits; the five elements; the five gross elements (the sky, etc.); the five gross elements; the five material elements; the ghost; the gross; the gross elements; the material elements; the material energy; the physical elements; to other living entities; with all the gross material elements.-bhāvanaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhāvanaḥ

teaching; well-wisher.—is the source of all manifestations. 

Translation

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation. 

Purport

The Lord says that everything is resting on Him. This should not be misunderstood. The Lord is not directly concerned with the maintenance and sustenance of this material manifestation. Sometimes we see a picture of Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders; he seems to be very tired, holding this great earthly planet. Such an image should not be entertained in connection with Kṛṣṇa’s upholding this created universe. He says that although everything is resting on Him, still He is aloof. The planetary systems are floating in space, and this space is the energy of the Supreme Lord. But He is different from space. He is differently situated. Therefore the Lord says, “Although they are situated on My inconceivable energy, still, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I am aloof from them.” This is the inconceivable opulence of the Lord. 

In the Vedic dictionary it is said, “The Supreme Lord is performing inconceivably wonderful pastimes, displaying His energy. His person is full of different potent energies, and His determination is itself actual fact. In this way the Personality of Godhead is to be understood.” We may think to do something, but there are so many impediments, and sometimes it is not possible to do as we like. But when Kṛṣṇa wants to do something, simply by His willing, everything is performed so perfectly that one cannot imagine how it is being done. The Lord explains this fact: although He is the maintainer and sustainer of all material manifestation, He does not touch this material manifestation. Simply by His supreme will everything is created, everything is sustained, everything is maintained, and everything is annihilated. There is no difference between His mind and Himself (as there is a difference between ourselves and our present material mind) because He is absolute spirit. Simultaneously the Lord is present in everything; yet the common man cannot understand how He is also present personally. He is different from this material manifestation, yet everything is resting on Him. This is explained here as yogam aiśvaram, the mystic power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

“And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence. Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation.” (Bg. 9.5)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.5

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation. 

Although all beings in the universe are resting in Kṛṣṇa’s energy, still they are not in Him. Kṛṣṇa is maintaining all living entities, and His energy is all-pervading, yet He is elsewhere. This is Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable mystic power. He is everywhere, yet He is aloof from everything. We can perceive his energy, but we cannot see Him because He cannot be seen with material eyes. However, when we develop our spiritual qualities, we sanctify our senses so that even within this energy we can see Him. Electricity, for instance, is everywhere, and an electrician is capable of utilizing it. Similarly, the energy of the Supreme Lord is everywhere, and when we become transcendentally situated, we can see God eye to eye everywhere. That spiritualization of the senses is possible through devotional service and love of God. The Lord is all-pervading all over the universe and is within the soul, the heart, water, air—everywhere. Thus if we make an image of God in anything—clay, stone, wood or whatever—it should not be considered to be just a doll. That also is God. If we have sufficient devotion, the image will also speak to us. God is everywhere impersonally (mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam [Bg. 9.4]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.4

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.), but if we make His personal form from anything, or if we create an image of God within ourselves, He will be present personally for us. In the śāstras, there are eight kinds of images recommended, and any kind of image can be worshiped because God is everywhere. One may protest and ask, “Why should God be worshiped in images and not in His original spiritual form?” The answer is that we cannot see God immediately in His spiritual form. With our material eyes we can only see stone, earth, wood—something tangible. Therefore Kṛṣṇa comes as arcā-vigraha, a form conveniently presented by the Supreme Lord in order for us to see Him. The result is that if we concentrate upon the image and make offerings with love and devotion, Kṛṣṇa will respond through the image. 

There are many instances of this happening. In India, there is one temple called Sākṣi-Gopāla (Kṛṣṇa is often called Gopāla). The Gopāla mūrti or statue was at one time located in a temple in Vṛndāvana. Once two brāhmaṇas, one old and one young, went to visit Vṛndāvana on a pilgrimage. It was a long trip, and in those days there were no railways, so travelers underwent many hardships. The old man was much obliged to the youth for helping him on the journey, and upon arriving in Vṛndāvana, he said to him: “My dear boy, you have rendered me so much service, and I am much obliged to you. I would like very much to return that service and give you some reward.” 

“My dear sir,” the youth said, “you are an old man just like my father. It is my duty to serve you. I don’t require any reward.” 

“No, I’m obliged to you, and I must reward you,” the old man insisted. He then promised to give the young man his young daughter in marriage. 

The old man was a very rich man, and the youth, although a learned brāhmaṇa, was very poor. Considering this, the youth said, “Don’t promise this, for your family will never agree. I am such a poor man, and you are aristocratic, so this marriage will not take place. Don’t promise this way before the Deity.” 

The conversation was taking place in the temple before the Deity of Gopāla Kṛṣṇa, and the young man was anxious not to offend the Deity. However, despite the youth’s pleas, the old man insisted on the marriage. After staying in Vṛndāvana for some time, they finally returned home, and the old man informed his eldest son that his young sister was to be married to the poor brāhmaṇa youth. The eldest son became very angry. “Oh, how have you selected that pauper as husband for my sister? This cannot be.” 

The old man’s wife also came to him and said, “If you marry our daughter to that boy, I shall commit suicide.” 

The old man was thus perplexed. After some time, the brāhmaṇa youth became very anxious. “He has promised to marry his daughter to me, and he made that promise before the Deity. Now he is not coming to fulfill it.” He then went to see the old man to remind him of his promise. 

“You promised before Lord Kṛṣṇa,” the youth said, “and you are not fulfilling that promise. How is that?” 

The old man was silent. He began praying to Kṛṣṇa, for he was perplexed. He didn’t want to marry his daughter to the youth and cause such great trouble within his family. In the meantime the elder son came out and began to accuse the brāhmaṇa youth. “You have plundered my father in the place of pilgrimage. You gave him some intoxicant and took all his money, and now you are saying that he has promised to offer you my youngest sister. You rascal!” 

In this way there was much noise, and people began to gather. The youth could understand that the old man was still agreeable but that the family was making it difficult for him. People began to gather about because of the noise which the elder son was raising, and the brāhmaṇa youth began to exclaim to them that the old man made this promise before the Deities but that he could not fulfill it because the family was objecting. The eldest son, who was an atheist, suddenly interrupted the youth and said, “You say that the Lord was witnessing. Well, if He comes and bears witness to this promise of my father’s, you can have my sister in marriage.” 

The youth replied, “Yes, I shall ask Kṛṣṇa to come as a witness.” He was confident that God would come. An agreement was then made before everyone that the girl would be given in marriage if Kṛṣṇa came from Vṛndāvana as a witness to the old man’s promise. 

The brāhmaṇa youth returned to Vṛndāvana and began to pray to Gopāla Kṛṣṇa. “Dear Lord, You must come with me.” He was such a staunch devotee that he spoke to Kṛṣṇa just as one would speak to a friend. He was not thinking that the Gopāla was a mere statue or image, but he considered Him to be God Himself. Suddenly the Deity spoke to him: 

“How do you think that I can go with you? I am a statue. I can’t go anywhere.” 

“Well, if a statue can speak, he can also walk,” the boy replied. 

“All right then,” the Deity said finally. “I shall go with you, but on one condition. In no case shall you look back to see Me. I will follow you, and you will know that I am following by the jingle of My leg bangles.” 

The youth agreed, and in this way they left Vṛndāvana to go to the other town. When the trip was nearly over, just as they were about to enter his home village, the youth could no longer hear the sound of the bangles, and he began to fear. “Oh, where is Kṛṣṇa?” Unable to contain himself any longer, he looked back. He saw the statue standing still. Because he looked back, it would go no further. He immediately ran into the town and told the people to come out and see Kṛṣṇa who had come as a witness. Everyone was astounded that such a large statue had come from such a distance, and they built a temple on the spot in honor of the Deity, and today people are still worshiping Sākṣi-Gopāla, the Lord as a witness. 

We should therefore conclude that because God is everywhere, He is also in His statue, in the image made of Him. If Kṛṣṇa is everywhere, as even the impersonalists admit, then why isn’t He in His image? Whether an image or statue speaks to us or not is dependent on the degree of our devotion. But if we choose to see the image merely as a piece of wood or stone, Kṛṣṇa will always remain wood or stone for us. Kṛṣṇa is everywhere, but as we advance in spiritual consciousness we can begin to see Him as He is. If we put a letter into a mailbox, it will go to its destination because the mailbox is authorized. Similarly, if we worship an authorized image of God, our faith will have some effect. If we are prepared to follow the various rules and regulations—that is to say, if we become qualified—it is possible to see God anywhere and everywhere. When a devotee is present, Kṛṣṇa, by His omnipresent energies, will manifest Himself anywhere and everywhere, but when His devotee is not there, He will not do this. There are many instances of this. Prahlāda Mahārāja saw Kṛṣṇa in a pillar. There are many other examples. Kṛṣṇa is there; all that is required is our qualification to see Him. 

Kṛṣṇa Himself gives an example of His omnipresence in this way:. 

Bg. 9.6

यथाकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान् ।
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय ॥६॥

Text

yathākāśa-sthito nityaṁ
vāyuḥ sarvatra-go mahān
tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni
mat-sthānīty upadhāraya

Synonyms

yathāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyathā

according to; accordingly as; and as; anywhere; as (He likes); as; as advised by his father; as also; as far as possible; as far as; as follows; as has; as He desires; as if; as if it were; as is; as it; as it is; as it is now; as it should have been; as it was; as it was done; as it were; as many; as much; as much as (deserved); as much as; as requested; as they are; as they told it; as they were; as well as; as you; by which; development of austerity and penance; duly; even as; exactly as; exactly like; fittingly; for the forefathers and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; how; in any manner; in order that; in the matter of; in what way; in which manner; in which way; in whichever manner; inasmuch as; just as; just as if; just like; like; like Him; or just as; properly; since; so; so that; so you inform me; the manner in which; where; wherever; without deviation.—as much as; ākāśaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigākāśa

the sky.-sthitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthitah

being situated; being so situated; existing; fixed; keeping (Yourself); placed; present in front of them; remained; situated; standing; thus being situated; thus situated; you are situated.—situated in space; nityamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bignityam

always; constant; constantly (engaged); constantly; constantly existing; daily; eternal; eternal function; eternally; for all time; forever; from time immemorial; perpetually; regularly; regularly by the principles of nature; regularly, always; the eternal spirit soul; twenty-four hours a day; without cessation, continuously.—always; vāyuḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvāyuḥ

air; air of life; breeze; the air; the air of life; the breeze; the demigod of air; the god of the winds; the wind; the wind-god; the winds; Vāyu, the director of the air; wind.—wind; sarvatraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarvatra

all around; all over; always and everywhere within this universe; everywhere (all-pervading); everywhere (in any form of life); everywhere; everywhere in this material world; everywhere, or in the heart of every living being; in all space and time; in every respect.-gaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggah

bulls; cows; the cows.—blowing everywhere; mahānplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmahān

a great; a great amount; a great personality; a very great exalted person; although very great; Aṁśumān, the great personality; great; great and tumultuous; great personality; greatly; Mahān; of a great personality; qualified by all good qualities; the mahat-tattva; the great; the great devotee; the great personality; the greatest; the material Causal Ocean; the total energy, mahat-tattva; the total material elements (the mahat-tattva); the total material energy; unlimited; very big; very great; very, very great; worshipable.—great; tathāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtatha

so.—similarly; sarvāṇiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarvāṇi

all; all of them; all sorts of; everything.—everything; bhūtāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhūtāni

all beings; all created beings; all creation; all kinds of living entities; all living beings; all living entities; all people; all that are created; all the bodies of the living entities; all the living entities; all things; all this material manifestation; all those materially born; and the other living entities; created beings; different varieties of living entities; elements; entities; everything created; ghosts; living beings; living entities (that are born); living entities; living entities or servants; offspring; other living entities; personalities; persons; the living beings; the living entities (animals); the living entities; the material bodies; to ghosts and spirits; to living entities; unto the living entities in general; which are produced.—created beings; matplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmat

by me; for Me; from Me; having; Me; Mine; My; myself; of Me; possessing; than me; than Myself; to me; to Myself; under My; unto Me (Kṛṣṇa); unto Me.-sthāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsthāni

situated.—situated in Me; itiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigiti

thus; all these; also; and so on; as; as such; considering all these things; considering in that way; here; in this way (after giving everything to the brāhmaṇas); in this way; it is thus; known by these names; like that; like this; so it is; such; taking it as; that; therefore; they; this; thus (Hariścandra said); thus (saying out of contempt); thus (thinking in the above-mentioned way); thus (thinking); thus; thus accepted; thus accepting the words of Lord Brahmā; thus deciding; thus stated; thus thinking; thus vituperating.—thus; upadhārayaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigupadhāraya

just think of me in this regard; know; try to understand.—try to understand. 

Translation

As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me. 

Purport

For the ordinary person it is almost inconceivable how the huge material creation is resting in Him. But the Lord is giving an example which may help us to understand. Space is the biggest manifestation we can conceive. The cosmic manifestation rests in space. Space permits the movement of even the atoms and on up to the greatest planets, the sun and the moon. Although the sky (or wind or air) is great, still it is situated within space. Space is not beyond the sky. 

Similarly, all the wonderful cosmic manifestations are existing by the supreme will of God, and all of them are subordinate to that supreme will. As we generally say, not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus everything is moving under His will: by His will everything is being created, everything is being maintained, and everything is being annihilated. Still He is aloof from everything, as space is always aloof from the activities of the atmosphere. In the Upaniṣads, it is stated, “It is out of the fear of the Supreme Lord that the wind is blowing.” In the Garga Upaniṣad also it is stated, “By the supreme order, under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the moon, the sun and the great planets are moving.” In the Brahma-saṁhitā this is also stated. There is also a description of the movement of the sun, and it is said that the sun is considered to be one of the eyes of the Supreme Lord and that it has immense potency to diffuse heat and light. Still it is moving in its prescribed orbit by the order and the supreme will of Govinda. So, from the Vedic literature we can find evidence that this material manifestation, which appears to us to be very wonderful and great, is under the complete control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This will be further explained in the later verses of this chapter. 

“As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space, know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me.” (Bg. 9.6)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.6

As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me. 

Everyone knows that the wind blows within space, and on earth it is blowing everywhere. There is no place where there is no air or wind. If we wish to drive out air, we have to create a vacuum artificially by some machine. Just as the air is blowing everywhere in space, so everything is existing within Kṛṣṇa. If this is the case, when the material creation is dissolved, where does it go? 

Bg. 9.7

सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् ।
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ॥७॥

Text

sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya
prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām
kalpa-kṣaye punas tāni
kalpādau visṛjāmy aham

Synonyms

sarvaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsarva

all; all around; all kinds; all kinds of; all over; everyone; everything; for all; for everyone; in all; in all respects; of all; of all demigods; of all kinds; of everyone; of everything.-bhūtāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhūtāni

all beings; all created beings; all creation; all kinds of living entities; all living beings; all living entities; all people; all that are created; all the bodies of the living entities; all the living entities; all things; all this material manifestation; all those materially born; and the other living entities; created beings; different varieties of living entities; elements; entities; everything created; ghosts; living beings; living entities (that are born); living entities; living entities or servants; offspring; other living entities; personalities; persons; the living beings; the living entities (animals); the living entities; the material bodies; to ghosts and spirits; to living entities; unto the living entities in general; which are produced.—all created entities; kaunteyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkaunteya

O son of Kuntī.—O son of Kuntī; prakṛtimplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigprakṛtim

prakṛti; acquired nature or modes of nature; as the source; characteristics; constitutional position; energy; habits; in the material world; material energy; material existence; material nature; matter; my own; natural position; nature; situated in spiritual energy; the material cause; transcendental form; unto material nature.—nature; yāntiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyānti

achieve; appear (in form); approach; approaches; attain; departs; do approach; enter; go; go away; goes; goes away; pass; they go; undergo; used to go; will go to.—enter; māmikāmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmāmikām

unto Me.—unto Me; kalpaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkalpa

a day of Brahmā (millennium); a day of Brahmā; creation; in one day of Lord Brahmā; intermediate devastation; Kalpa; millennium; the duration of Brahmā's day.-kṣayeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkṣaye

in gradual destruction (the dark fortnight).—at the end of the millennium; punaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpunaḥ

again (at home); again (is to be said); again (their son); again; again and again; again, for the second time; again, the second; but; then; yet.—again; tāniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtani

activities; all of our lost things; all of them (in the form of songs); all of them; all of those (activities); all the bows of Kārtavīryārjuna; all those; all those places; such words; the sense organs; them (the weapons); them; these three; those; those elements; those senses.—all those; kalpaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkalpa

a day of Brahmā (millennium); a day of Brahmā; creation; in one day of Lord Brahmā; intermediate devastation; Kalpa; millennium; the duration of Brahmā's day.-ādauplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigādau

at first; first; in the beginning (the Second and Third Cantos); in the beginning; in the beginning of creation; original in the creative energy of matter; originally.—in the beginning of the millennium; visṛjāmiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvisṛjāmi

create; I create.—I create; ahamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigaham

as far as I am concerned; as I am; egotism; false ego; false identification (in the bodily concept of life); false identity; I ("I am this body"); I (am); I (Kṛṣṇa); I (Lord Brahmā); I (Lord Śiva); I (Prahlāda Mahārāja); I (the person desiring release from material life); I (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); I; I am; I am everything; I am independent; I am the material body; I myself; I, Lord Kṛṣṇa; I, the Personality of Godhead; I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; I, Yamarāja; me; my existence ("I am something"); my humble self; myself (Brahmājī); Myself; the word aham; the wrong mental conception.—I. 

Translation

O son of Kuntī, at the end of the millennium every material manifestation enters into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency I again create. 

Purport

The creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material cosmic manifestation is completely dependant on the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead. “At the end of the millennium” means at the death of Brahmā. Brahmā lives for one hundred years, and his one day is calculated at 4,300,000,000 of our earthly years. His night is of the same duration. His month consists of thirty such days and nights, and his year of twelve months. After one hundred such years, when Brahmā dies, the devastation or annihilation takes place; this means that the energy manifested by the Supreme Lord is again wound up in Himself. Then again, when there is need to manifest the cosmic world, it is done by His will: “Although I am one, I shall become many.” This is the Vedic aphorism. He expands Himself in this material energy, and the whole cosmic manifestation again takes place. 

“O son of Kuntī, at the end of the millennium every material manifestation enters into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency I again create.” (Bg. 9.7)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.7

O son of Kuntī, at the end of the millennium every material manifestation enters into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency I again create. 

Kṛṣṇa sets His nature (prakṛti) into motion, as one may wind up a clock, and when nature unwinds, it is absorbed into the Lord. The spiritual creation, however, is not like this, for it is permanent. In the material creation everything is temporary. Just as our bodies are developing due to the spiritual spark that is within, the whole creation is coming into being, developing and passing out of being, due to the spirit of the Lord which is within it. Just as our spirit is present within the body, the Lord is present within the universe as Paramātmā. Due to the presence of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the material creation exists, just as due to our presence our bodies are existing. Sometimes Kṛṣṇa manifests the material creation, and sometimes He does not. In all cases, its existence is due to His presence.