Sri Priti-Sandarbha
BY: SUN STAFF
Srila Jiva Goswami
Jul 19, CANADA (SUN) —
Sri Priti-sandarbha
Volume One
by Srila Jiva Goswami
Anuccheda 117
That the Supreme Lord's transcendental qualities are limitless is described in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.7):
gunatmanas te 'pi gunan vimatum
hitavatirnasya ka ishire 'sya. . .
"In time, great scientists may be able to count all the atoms of the universe, all the stars and planets in the sky, and all the particles of snow, but who among them can count the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?"*
The meaning of this verse is clear. This verse was spoken by the demigod Brahma to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Anuccheda 118
By the Lord's inconceivable potency even mutually contradictory qualities reside within Him. This is known on the authority of scripture. In Vedanta-sutra (2.1.27) it is said:
shrutes tui shabda-mulatvat
"The nature of the Supreme is known only by the revelation of scripture."
Some of these mutually contradictory features of the Lord are seen in the words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.43.17):
mallanam ashanih. . .
"The various groups of people in the arena regarded Krishna in different ways when He entered it with His elder brother. The wrestlers saw Krishna as a lightning bolt, the men of Mathura as the best of males, the women as Cupid in person, the cowherd men as their relative, the impious rulers as a chastiser, His parents as their child, the King of the Bhojas as death, the unintelligent as the Supreme Lord's universal form, the yogis as the Absolute Truth, and the Vrishnis as their supreme worshipable Deity."***
The inconceivable power of the Lord is seen in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.7.7):
shishor analpaka-pravala-mridv-anghri-hatam vyavartata. . .
"Lord Sri Krishna was lying down underneath the handcart in one corner of the courtyard, and although His little legs were as soft as leaves, when He struck the cart with His legs, it turned over violently and collapsed. The wheels separated from the axle, the hubs and spokes fell apart, and the pole of the handcart broke. On the cart there were many little utensils made of various metals, and all of them scattered hither and thither."*
Lord Krishna's transcendental gentleness sis described in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.15.16):
kvacit pallava-talpeshu
niyuddha-shrama-karshitah. . .
"Sometimes Lord Krishna grew tired from fighting and lay down at the base of a tree, resting upon a bed made of soft twigs and buds and using the lap of a cowherd friend as His pillow."***
The Supreme Lord's gentleness is also seen in the pastime where Goddess Lakshmi stopped Him from eating the inferior rice Sudama Vipra brought. Lord Krishna's transcendental gentleness is also seen in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.60.7):
vala-vyajanam adaya
ratna-dandam sakhi-karat
"From her maidservant's hand Goddess Rukmini took a yak-hair fan with a jeweled handle, and then she began to worship her master by fanning Him."***
The pastime where Goddess Lakshmi stopped Lord Krishna from eating Sudama Vipra's rice is described in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.81.10):
iti mushtim. . . tat-para
"After saying this, the Supreme Lord ate one palmful and was about to eat a second when the devoted goddess Rukmini took hold of His hand."***
In this pastime Lord Krishna thought: "By My mercy I have already given a little of My opulences to this devotee. Why should I continue to eat this inferior rice?" Even if He breaks the rules of religion, the Supreme Lord is never sinful or impious. This is seen in the following words of Chandogya Upanishad (8.1.5):
ayam atmapahata-papma
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always free from sin."
This truth is also confirmed by the following words of Kurma Purana:
aishvarya-yogad bhagavan
viruddhartho 'bhidhiyate
tathapi doshah parame
naivaharyah samantatah
"Even if He breaks the rules of religion, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always sinless, for He is the all-opulent supreme master."
The idea that among the Supreme lord's qualities there are some faults is refuted in the following passage of Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.8.18-19):
tatas tato nupura-valgu-shinjitair
visarpati hema-lateva sa babhau
"As she (the goddess of fortune) walked here and there, her ankle-bells jingling softly, she appeared like a creeper of gold.*
vilokayanti niravadyam atmanah
padam dhruvam cavyabhicari-sad-gunam
gandharva-siddhasura-yaksha-carana-
traipishtapeyadishu nanvavindata
"While walking among the Gandharvas, Yakshas, asuras, Siddhas, Caranas, and denizens of heaven, Laksmi-devi, the goddess of fortune, was scrutinizingly examining them, but could not find anyone naturally endowed with all good qualities. None of them was devoid of faults, and therefore she could not take shelter of any of them."*
In this passage the word "sa" (she) refers to Goddess Lakshmi, "padam" means "shelter", “dhruvam" means "eternal", and "avyabhicari-sad-gunam" means "the person who has eternal good qualities".
Return to Anuccheda 116
