Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.13.57
Āśraya· The supreme shelterReceive Knowledge Beyond Our Limited Reason
“The Supreme Brahman is beyond mental speculation, He is self-manifest, existing in His own bliss, and He is beyond the material energy. He is known by the crest jewels of the Vedas by refutation of irrelevant knowledge. Thus in relation to that Supreme Brahman, the Personality of Godhead, whose glory had been shown by the manifestation of all the four-armed forms of Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā, the lord of Sarasvatī, was mystified. “What is this?” he thought, and then he was not even able to see. Lord Kṛṣṇa, understanding Brahmā’s position, then at once removed the curtain of His yoga-māyā.”
What the purport teaches
- Even Brahmā, the lord of Sarasvatī and most intelligent, could not understand Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable opulence. Seeing his bewilderment, Kṛṣṇa removed the yoga-māyā covering.
- Kṛṣṇa’s energy is one but works in varied ways. Yoga-māyā makes the Absolute Truth manifest or unmanifest, whereas mahā-māyā covers reality and displays something unreal.
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot be understood through our limited thoughts and arguments. We must submit and receive descending knowledge through the paramparā system, accepting Kṛṣṇa’s words as they are.
Try this today
Reread one statement from this translation and pause to receive it humbly, without trying to fit Kṛṣṇa within your own limitations.
Ask yourself
How can I approach Kṛṣṇa’s teachings with humility rather than pride in my own knowledge?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.