Canto 7: The Science of GodChapter 1: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.1.2

na hy asyārthaḥ sura-gaṇaiḥ

sākṣān niḥśreyasātmanaḥ

naivāsurebhyo vidveṣo

nodvegaś cāguṇasya hi

SYNONYMS

na — not; hi — certainly; asya — His; arthaḥ — benefit, interest; sura-gaṇaiḥ — with the demigods; sākṣāt — personally; niḥśreyasa — of the highest bliss; ātmanaḥ — whose nature; na — not; eva — certainly; asurebhyaḥ — for the demons; vidveṣaḥ — envy; na — not; udvegaḥ — fear; ca — and; aguṇasya — who possesses no material qualities; hi — certainly.

TRANSLATION

Lord Viṣṇu Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all pleasure. Therefore, what benefit would He derive from siding with the demigods? What interest would He fulfill in this way? Since the Lord is transcendental, why should He fear the asuras, and how could He be envious of them?

PURPORT

We should always remember the distinction between spiritual and material. That which is material is infected by material qualities, but these qualities cannot touch that which is spiritual, or transcendental. Kṛṣṇa is absolute, whether He is in the material world or spiritual world. When we see partiality in Kṛṣṇa, this vision is due to His external energy. Otherwise how could His enemies attain salvation after being killed by Him? Everyone who deals with the Supreme Personality of Godhead gradually acquires the qualities of the Lord. The more one advances in spiritual consciousness, the less he is affected by the duality of material qualities. The Supreme Lord, therefore, must certainly be freed from these qualities. His enmity and friendship are external features presented by the material energy. He is always transcendental. He is absolute, whether He kills or bestows His favor.

Envy and friendship arise in one who is imperfect. We fear our enemies because in the material world we are always in need of help. The Lord, however, does not need anyone's help, for He is ātmārāma. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.26):

patraḿ puṣpaḿ phalaḿ toyaḿ

yo me bhaktyā prayacchati

tad ahaḿ bhakty-upahṛtam

aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

"If a devotee offers Me with devotion a little leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I shall accept it." Why does the Lord say this? Is He dependent on the offering of the devotee? He is not actually dependent, but He likes to be dependent upon His devotee. This is His mercy. Similarly, He does not fear the asuras. Thus there is no question of partiality in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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