Shloka 33
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
मैत्रेय उवाच एवं तमनुभाष्याथ भगवान् प्रत्यगक्षज: । जगाम बिन्दुसरस: सरस्वत्या परिश्रितात् ॥ ३३ ॥
maitreya uvāca evaṁ tam anubhāṣyātha bhagavān pratyag-akṣajaḥ jagāma bindusarasaḥ sarasvatyā pariśritāt
Maitreya sprach: Nachdem der Herr so zu Kardama Muni geredet hatte—der den Sinnen unzugänglich ist und sich offenbart, wenn sie sich in Kṛṣṇa-Bewusstsein nach innen wenden—verließ Er den See Bindu-sarovara, den der Fluss Sarasvatī umschließt.
One word in this verse is very significant. The Lord is stated here to be pratyag-akṣaja. He is imperceptible to material senses, but still He can be seen. This appears to be contradictory. We have material senses, but how can we see the Supreme Lord? He is called adhokṣaja, which means that He cannot be seen by the material senses. Akṣaja means “knowledge perceived by material senses.” Because the Lord is not an object that can be understood by speculation with our material senses, He is also called ajita; He will conquer, but no one can conquer Him. What does it mean, then, that still He can be seen? It is explained that no one can hear the transcendental name of Kṛṣṇa, no one can understand His transcendental form, and no one can assimilate His transcendental pastimes. It is not possible. Then how is it possible that He can be seen and understood? When one is trained in devotional service and renders service unto Him, gradually one’s senses are purified of material contamination. When one’s senses are thus purified, then one can see, one can understand, one can hear and so on. The purification of the material senses and perception of the transcendental form, name and quality of Kṛṣṇa are combined together in one word, pratyag-akṣaja, which is used here.
FAQs
This verse calls the Lord pratyag-akṣaja (Adhokṣaja), emphasizing that the Supreme Lord cannot be grasped by material senses, yet He personally appears and acts for the sake of His devotees.
After instructing Kardama Muni, the Lord departed to Bindu-sarovara, a sacred lakeside place on the Sarasvatī—highlighting the Bhagavatam theme that divine pastimes and holy places are connected with the Lord’s dealings with devotees.
Approach spiritual truth with humility: the Lord is beyond sensory proof, so cultivate devotion, hear authentic teachings, and honor sacred spaces and practices that support remembrance of Bhagavan.