| Canto 3: The Status Quo | Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.36
etad bhagavato rūpam
SYNONYMS
etat — this; bhagavatah — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rūpam — form; brahmanah — of Brahman; parama-ātmanah — of Paramātmā; param — transcendental; pradhānam — chief; purusham — personality; daivam — spiritual; karma-viceshtitam — whose activities.
TRANSLATION
This purusha whom the individual soul must approach is the eternal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Brahman and Paramātmā. He is the transcendental chief personality, and His activities are all spiritual.
PURPORT
In order to distinguish the personality whom the individual soul must approach, it is described herein that this purusha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the chief amongst all living entities and is the ultimate form of the impersonal Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation. Since He is the origin of the Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation, He is described herewith as the chief personality. It is confirmed in the Katha Upanishad, nityo nityānām: there are many eternal living entities, but He is the chief maintainer. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā also, where Lord Krishna says, aham sarvasya prabhavah: "I am the origin of everything, including the Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation." His activities are transcendental, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. Janma karma ca me divyam: [Bg. 4.9] the activities and the appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are transcendental; they are not to be considered material. Anyone who knows this fact — that the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord are beyond material activities or material conception — is liberated. Yo vetti tattvatah/ tyaktvā deham punar janma: [Bg. 4.9] such a person, after quitting his body, does not come back again to this material world, but goes to the Supreme Person. It is confirmed here, purushah purusham vrajet: the living entity goes to the Supreme Personality simply by understanding His transcendental nature and activities.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness