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Chapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person · 20 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Krishna’s natureChapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person

15.16 15.18

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 15.17

The Supreme Person beyond fallible and infallible

Īśvara · God

उत्तम: पुरुषस्त्वन्य: परमात्मेत्युदाहृत: ।

यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वर: ॥ १७ ॥

uttamaḥ puruṣas tv anyaḥ

paramātmety udāhṛtaḥ

yo loka-trayam āviśya

bibharty avyaya īśvaraḥ

Translation

Besides these two, there is the greatest living personality, the Supreme Soul, the imperishable Lord Himself, who has entered the three worlds and is maintaining them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

The Supreme Soul Maintains All

1
The Supreme Soul is the greatest living personality, the imperishable Lord who enters and maintains the three worlds.
2
Prabhupāda explains that He is above both conditioned and liberated souls and lives in everyone’s heart as Paramātmā.
3
Seek to understand the Supreme Lord; only those who understand Him are eligible to attain perfect peace.

Key points from the purport

Supersoul is discussed — Supreme Soul is the master of both living entities – He is the greatest living personality

He enters the three worlds and is maintaining them

Supporting Ref. Katha and Svetasvatara Upanisad — “nityo nityanam…”

It explains that above all living entities both conditioned and liberated there is one Supreme living personality who maintains them and gives all the facilities for enjoyment

Who is a wise man who can obtain perfect peace — One who can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the Supreme Personality who is also present in everyone’s heart as Paramatma and maintaining everyone