Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 11
Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari
Gajendra Prelude
यं पश्यति न पश्यन्तं चक्षुर्यस्य न रिष्यति । तं भूतनिलयं देवं सुपर्णमुपधावत ॥ ११ ॥
yaṁ paśyati na paśyantaṁ cakṣur yasya na riṣyati taṁ bhūta-nilayaṁ devaṁ suparṇam upadhāvata
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly watches the activities of the world, no one sees Him. However, one should not think that because no one sees Him, He does not see, for His power to see is never diminished. Therefore, everyone should worship the Supersoul, who always stays with the individual soul as a friend.
Offering prayers to Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Kuntīdevī, the mother of the Pāṇḍavas, said, alakṣyaṁ sarva-bhūtānām antar bahir avasthitam: “Kṛṣṇa, You reside both inside and outside of everything, yet the unintelligent conditioned souls cannot see You.” In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that one can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead through jñāna-cakṣuṣaḥ, eyes of knowledge. He who opens these eyes of knowledge is called a spiritual master. Thus we offer our prayers to the spiritual master with the following śloka:
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord sees everything, yet He is not perceived by ordinary material vision; the senses function only by His power.
Recognizing the Lord as the divine shelter and very abode of all beings, Garuḍa hastened toward Him in devotion and service.
It encourages humility about sense perception and strengthens devotion—seeking the Lord through bhakti and scripture rather than relying only on what the eyes can see.