Bs 5.28 \u2014 Enlightened by the recollection of that G\u0101yatr\u012b, embodying the three Vedas, Brahm\u0101 became acquainted with the expanse of the ocean of truth. Then he worshiped \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the essence of all Vedas, with this hymn.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This verse means \u201cEnlightened by the Gayatri, which embodies the three Vedas, Brahma offered prayers.\u201d The rest of the verse is clear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.29 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of lak\u1e63m\u012bs or gop\u012bs.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In this verse Brahma begins his prayers. Many mantras describe meditation on many sacred abodes. In this verse Brahma offers prayers to the Lord in His most important pastimes in His most important abode, Goloka. Here the word \u201cabhi\u201d means \u201cin all ways\u201d, primarily by walking in the forest and by walking among the cow-barns\u201d, and \u201cpalayantam\u201d means \u201caffectionately protecting\u201d. Sometimes the Lord enjoys pastimes in secluded places. These are described in the phrase beginning with the word \u201claksmi\u201d. The word \u201claksmi\u201d here means \u201cthe beautiful gopis\u201d. In this way the verse is explained.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.30 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock\u2019s feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In this verse is a meditation on the pastimes of the Lord in the transcendental cintamani abode known as Gokula, where there is no ordinary walking, and which will be further described in text 56. This verse is naturally joined to the following verse. Everything in this verse is clear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.31 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of \u015ay\u0101masundara is eternally manifest.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u201ckeli\u201d means \u201cpastimes characterised by love and by joking\u201d, and \u201ckala\u201d means \u201cexpert in the art\u201d. His pastimes (vilasa) are like that. In the Amara-kosa it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe words \u2018drava\u2019, \u2018keli\u2019 and \u2018parihasa\u2019 mean \u2018joking’\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.32 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After describing the Lord\u2019s pastimes in the previous two verses, in the next four verses the author describes the Lord\u2019s inconceivable powers and glories.\u00a0\u00a0 In this verse the author describes the powers and glories of the Lord\u2019s form. The Lord\u2019s hand has the power to see. His eyes have the power to protect. Each of His senses and limbs has all the powers of every other sense and limb. The Lord\u2019s senses are also described in these words of Bhagavad-gita (13.14):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cEverywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes, heads, and faces, and He has ears everywhere. In this way the Supersoul exists, pervading everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u201cjaganti\u201d means that the Lord personally employs His own senses and limbs in His various transcendental pastimes. The reason why the Lord\u2019s form is so wonderful and extraordinary is given in the phrase beginning with the word \u201cananda\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.33 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal puru\u1e63a; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the three verses that begin here the description of the Lord\u2019s extraordinary power and glory continues. The word \u201cadvaitam\u201d means that as a king has no rival, so the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no (na) rival (dvaita) anywhere in the world. In Shrimad-Bhagavatam (3.2.12), Shri Uddhava explains:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lord\u2019s pastimes were wonderful for everyone\u201c.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The meaning of the word \u201cacyutam\u201d is given by Shri Akrura in these words (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.38.7-8)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed, today King Kamsa has shown me extreme mercy by sending me to see the lotus feet of Lord Hari, who has now appeared in this world. Simply by the effulgence of His toenails, many souls in the past have transcended the insurmountable darkness of material existence and achieved liberation. Those lotus feet are worshipped by Brahma, Siva, and all the demigods, by the goddess of fortune, and also by the great sages and Vaishnavas.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shri Uddhava also explains (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.47.62):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goddess of fortune herself, along with Lord Brahma and all the other demigods, who are masters of yogic perfection, can worship the lotus feet of Krishna only within her mind. But during the rasa-dance Lord Krishna placed His feet upon these gopis\u2019 breasts, and by embracing those feet the gopis gave up all distress.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shri Sukadeva Gosvami also explains (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.28.14 and 17):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe all-merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari revealed to the cowherd men His abode, which is beyond material darkness.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men felt the greatest happiness when they saw that transcendental abode. They were especially amazed to see Krishna Himself there, surrounded by the Personified Vedas, who were offering Him prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u201canadi\u201d means \u201cfree from the three phases of time, which consist of beginning, middle and end\u201d. It is described in these words of Shrimad-Bhagavatam (11.24.27):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cTime merges into the Supreme Lord, present in the form of the omniscient Maha-purusa, the original activator of all living beings.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thus it is said that when the material universe is destroyed the Supreme Personality of Godhead remains an aloof witness. He is not destroyed. That is the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the seer of everything is confirmed by the Lord Himself in these words (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 11.24.29):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThus I, the perfect seer of everything material and spiritual, have spoken this knowledge of sankhya, which destroys the illusion of doubt by scientific analysis of creation and annihilation.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u201cpurana-purusam\u201d is explained by Brahma in this way (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.23):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cO Lord, You are the primeval Supreme Personality of Godhead.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The people of Mathura also affirm:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cKrishna is the primeval Supreme Personality of Godhead colourfully decorated with garlands of forest flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u201cnava-yauvanam\u201d is defined in these words of the Nirukti:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNava-yauvana\u201d means \u201ceven though one is the oldest, he is young like a fresh youth\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.44.14) it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat austerities must the gopis have performed! With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord Krishna\u2019s form, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equalled or surpassed. That loveliness is the only abode of beauty, fame, and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever-fresh, and extremely rare.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the Ninth Canto it is said (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 9.24.65):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cKrishna\u2019s face is decorated with ornaments, such as earrings resembling sharks.\u00a0\u00a0 His ears are beautiful. His cheeks brilliant, and His smiling attractive to everyone. Whoever sees Lord Krishna sees a festival. His face and body are fully satisfying for everyone to see, but the devotees are angry at the creator for the disturbance caused by the momentary blinking of the eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the First Canto it is said (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.26-29):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Supreme Personality of Godhead reside 1. truthfulness, 2. cleanliness,\u00a0\u00a0 3. intolerance of another\u2019s unhappiness, 4. power to control anger, 5. self-satisfaction, 6. straightforwardness, 7. steadiness of mind, 8. control of the sense organs, 9. responsibility, 10. equality, 11. tolerance, 12 equanimity, 13. faithfulness, 14. knowledge, 15. absence of sense enjoyment, 16. leadership, 17. chivalry, 18. influence, 19. the power to make everything possible, 20. the discharge of proper duty, 21. complete independence,\u00a0\u00a0 22. dexterity, 23. fullness of all beauty, 24. serenity, 25. kindheartedness, 26. ingenuity, 27. gentility, 28. magnanimity, 29. determination, 30. perfection in all knowledge, 31. proper execution, 32. possession of all objects of enjoyment, 33, joyfulness, 34. immovability, 35. fidelity, 36. fame,\u00a0\u00a0 37. worship, 38. pridelessness, 39. being (as the Supreme Personality of Godhead), 40. eternity, and many other transcendental qualities which are eternally present and never to be separated from Him.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The following meditation on Lord Krishna is found in the Gopala-tapani Upanisad:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSplendid like a monsoon cloud, the youthful gopa Krishna sits under a kalpa-vrksa tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here the word \u201ctaruna\u201d, like \u201cnava-yauvana\u201d means \u201cwith a great opulence of youthfulness\u201d. The words \u201cvedesu duralabham\u201d are explained in these words of Shrimad-Bhagavatam\u2019s Tenth Canto:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Vedas search for the pathway to Lord Mukunda\u2019s feet.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The phrase \u201cadurlabham atma-bhaktau\u201d is explained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself in these words of Shrimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.21):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing very dear to the devotees and sadhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.5) it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cO Almighty Lord, in the past many yogis in this world achieved the platform of devotional service by offering all their endeavors unto You and faithfully carrying out their prescribed duties. Through such devotional service, perfected by the processes of hearing and chanting about You, they came to understand You, O infallible one, and could easily surrender to You and achieve Your supreme abode.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.34 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, only the tip of the toe of whose lotus feet is approached by the yog\u012bs who aspire after the transcendental and betake themselves to pr\u0101\u1e47\u0101y\u0101ma by drilling the respiration; or by the j\u00f1\u0101n\u012bs who try to find out the nondifferentiated Brahman by the process of elimination of the mundane, extending over thousands of millions of years.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here the word \u201cprapada-simni\u201d means \u201cthe tip of the lotus feet\u201d. Shri Narada explains (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 10.69.2):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is astounding that Lord Shri Krishna, who is one without a second, expanded Himself in sixteen thousand similar forms to marry sixteen thousand queens in their respective homes.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the Gopala-tapani Upanishad it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
eko vashi sarvagah krishna idyah<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Krishna is the one all-powerful, worshipable, all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanishad it is also said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
eko \u2018pi san bahudha yo \u2018vabhati<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough He is one, Lord Krishna expands in many forms.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The author of Brahma-samhita therefore concludes: \u201cLord Krishna has inconceivable powers (avicintya-tattve). This is also confirmed by the following words of Shrimad-Bhagavatam\u2019s Third Canto:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
atmeshvaro \u2018tarkya-sahasra-shaktih<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead has many thousands of inconceivable potencies.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In both the Skanda Purana and the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva, 5.28) it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything transcendental to material nature is called inconceivable, whereas arguments are all mundane. Since mundane arguments cannot touch transcendental subject matters, one should not try to understand transcendental subject matter through material arguments.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is also said in Vedanta-sutra (2.1.27):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
shrutes tu shabda-mulatvat<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe statements of scripture are the root of real knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the commentary on this verse it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
acintyo hi mani-mantra-mahaushadhinam prabhavah<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cJewels, mantras, and strong medicines have inconceivable powers.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.35 \u2014 He is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof. In His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable. All the universes exist in Him and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are scattered throughout the universe, at one and the same time. Such is the primeval Lord whom I adore.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.13.46) it is said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, while Lord Brahma looked on, all the calves and the boys tending them immediately appeared to have complexions the color of bluish rainclouds and to be dressed in yellow silken garments.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
These words describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the universes, assuming the forms of the cowherd boys. the word \u201cjagadanda-cayah\u201d is explained in these words of Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.9.13):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
na cantar na bahir yasya<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead has no beginning and no end, no exterior and no interior, no front and no rear. In other words, He is all-pervading.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the Shruti-shastra (Katha Upanishad 1.2.20) it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
anor aniyan mahato mahiyan<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead is smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the Gopala-tapani Upanishad it is said:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
yo \u2018sau sarveshu bhuteshv avishya bhutani vidadhati sa vo hi svami bhavati. yo \u2018sau sarva-bhutatma gopala eko devah sarva-bhuteshu gudhah.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead has entered all living entities. The cowherd boy Krishna is the Supersoul hidden in all living beings.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.36 \u2014 I adore the same Govinda, the primeval Lord, in whose praise men, who are imbued with devotion, sing the mantra-s\u016bktas told by the Vedas, by gaining their appropriate beauty, greatness, thrones, conveyances and ornaments.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How merciful must the Supreme Personality of Godhead be to His sincere devotees? That is explained in this verse. The scriptures say that as the cowherd boys attains virtues, character, age, pastimes, and appearance like those of Lord Krishna, and as they attained eternal association with Lord Krishna, so they who somehow or other meditate on Lord Krishna also attain the eternal association with Lord Krishna. This is described in the following statement of Shrimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.48):<\/p>\n
\u201cInimical kings like Shishupala, Paundraka, and Shalva were always thinking about Lord Krishna. Even while they were lying down, sitting, or engaging in other activities, they previously meditated on the bodily movements of the Lord, His sporting pastimes, His loving glances upon His devotees, and other attractive features displayed by the Lord. Being thus always absorbed in Krishna, they achieved spiritual liberation in the Lord\u2019s own abode. What then can be said of the benedictions offered to those who constantly fix their minds on Lord Krishna in a favorable, loving mood?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bs 5.37 \u2014 I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, residing in His own realm, Goloka, with R\u0101dh\u0101, resembling His own spiritual figure, the embodiment of the ecstatic potency possessed of the sixty-four artistic activities, in the company of Her confidantes [sakh\u012bs], embodiments of the extensions of Her bodily form, permeated and vitalized by His ever-blissful spiritual rasa.<\/p>\n
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What then may be said of the gopis, who are so dear to the Lord? These most exalted goddesses reside in that realm of Lord Krishna. That is described in this verse. Here the word \u201cananda-chinmaya-rasa\u201d means \u201cthe splendid ujjvala-rasa, which contains the most intense spiritual love\u201d and \u201cpratibhavitabhih\u201d means \u201cthey who worship the Lord in that ujjvala-rasa\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The use of the prefix \u201cprati\u201d means that of all the dear associates of the Lord who reside in the realm of Goloka, the gopis are the most exalted. The reason for this is given in the word \u201ckalabhih\u201d, which means \u201cthey whose forms are manifestations of the Lord\u2019s hladini shakti (pleasure potency)\u201d. This is shown by the use of the word \u201cprati\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u201cnija-rupataya\u201d means that the gopis are the wives of Lord Krishna. However, it is not in the Lord\u2019s manifest (prakata) pastimes that the gopis are the wives of Lord Krishna. The most exalted goddesses of fortune are the wives of Lord Krishna alone. They cannot be the wives of anyone else. However, in the Lord\u2019s manifested (prakata) pastimes in the material world, by the power of the maya potency, the gopis may seem to be the wives of others, wives who nevertheless intently yearn to attain Lord Krishna.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bs 5.28 \u2014 Enlightened by the recollection of that G\u0101yatr\u012b, embodying the three Vedas, Brahm\u0101 became acquainted with the expanse of the ocean of truth. Then he worshiped \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the essence of all Vedas, with … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[140,156,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area2","category-db","category-english"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-26 16:48:45","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31252\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}