Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.12.9
Āśraya· The supreme shelterDifferent Philosophies Describe the Supreme Lord
“Those who are known as the impersonalist Vedāntists regard You as the impersonal Brahman. Others, known as the Mīmāṁsaka philosophers, regard You as religion. The Sāṅkhya philosophers regard You as the transcendental person who is beyond prakṛti and puruṣa and who is the controller of even the demigods. The followers of the codes of devotional service known as the Pañcarātras regard You as being endowed with nine different potencies. And the Patañjala philosophers, the followers of Patañjali Muni, regard You as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead, who has no equal or superior.”
What the purport teaches
- Impersonalist Vedāntists regard the Lord as impersonal Brahman. Mīmāṁsaka philosophers regard Him as religion.
- Sāṅkhya philosophers regard Him as the transcendental person beyond prakṛti and puruṣa, controlling even the demigods. Followers of the Pañcarātras, the codes of devotional service, regard Him as endowed with nine potencies.
- The followers of Patañjali Muni regard Him as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead. He has no equal or superior.
Try this today
Read the translation once more and write down its description of the Lord as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you in the description of the Lord as independent, with no equal or superior?
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.