Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Ādi 2.89

dīpa haite yaiche bahu dīpera jvalana

mūla eka dīpa tāhā kariye gaṇana

SYNONYMS

dīpa — a lamp; haite — from; yaiche — just as; bahu — many; dīpera — of lamps; jvalana — lighting; mūla — the original; eka — one; dīpa — lamp; tāhā — that; kariye — I make; gaṇana — consideration

TRANSLATION

"When from one candle many others are lit, I consider that one the original.

PURPORT

The Brahma-saḿhitā, Chapter Five, verse 46, states that the viṣṇu-tattva, or the principle of the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is like a lamp because the expansions equal their origin in all respects. A burning lamp can light innumerable other lamps, and although they will not be inferior, still the lamp from which the others are lit must be considered the original. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself in the plenary forms of the viṣṇu-tattva, and although they are equally powerful, the original powerful Personality of Godhead is considered the source. This analogy also explains the appearance of qualitative incarnations like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā. According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, śambhos tu tamo-'dhiṣṭhānatvāt kajjalamaya-sūkṣma-dīpa-śikhā-sthānīyasya na tathā sāmyam: "The śambhu-tattva, or the principle of Lord Śiva, is like a lamp covered with carbon because of his being in charge of the mode of ignorance. The illumination from such a lamp is very minute. Therefore the power of Lord Śiva cannot compare to that of the Viṣṇu principle."

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness