The Greatness of Lord Damodara - Part 7

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled "The Greatness of Lord Damodara" wherein we were trying to meditate on the meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.13. In previous offerings we saw that the Lord is unlimited in space and time and that Krishna is the Supreme cause. Now we will see further.

7. He is the universe (jagac ca yaḥ): The word jagac ca yaḥ indicates that He Himself is the universe because the universe is a manifestation of His external energy and hence it is non-different from Him. Also the Lord is called the universe itself because the universe is utterly dependant on Him for its existence. Suppose if a company is utterly dependant on a person, then we say "He is that company." This is also confirmed in the Vedas as follows. Taiitirya Upanishad 4.2.3:

viśvataḥ paramam nityaṁ viśvaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ harim,
viśvamevedaṁ puruṣastadviśvamupajīvati.

Lord Narayana or Hari is  beyond the universe and He is eternal. The Supreme Person Himself is called the universe because the universe is utterly dependant on Him.

Since the universe is utterly dependant on Him, the rope which is a small object of the universe, cannot bind Him just as a poor person who is utterly dependant on the king for his existence, cannot control or bind the king. Also the rope is a material object and it can bind only things which are material and gross in nature. It cannot even bind things like water, air, fire and space which are material and not gross. But the Lord's form is completely spiritual with no tinge of matter. The Vedas states asthulam ananum ie. He is neither subtle nor gross.

Finally, Srila Prabhupada asks this question in the purport "All these points considered, Krishna cannot be measured. How did then Mother Yashoda want to measure and bind Him?"

Krishna willing, we will see how the Lord was bound by Mother Yashoda in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Narahari Krishna das
Ipswich.