Shloka 46
Kapila’s Advent: Brahmā’s Confirmation, the Marriage of the Nine Daughters, and Kardama’s Renunciation
आत्मानं सर्वभूतेषु भगवन्तमवस्थितम् । अपश्यत्सर्वभूतानि भगवत्यपि चात्मनि ॥ ४६ ॥
ātmānaṁ sarva-bhūteṣu bhagavantam avasthitam apaśyat sarva-bhūtāni bhagavaty api cātmani
He began to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead seated within the heart of every being, and he saw that all beings exist upon Him and also within the self.
That everyone is existing on the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not mean that everyone is also Godhead. This is also explained in Bhagavad-gītā: everything is resting on Him, the Supreme Lord, but that does not mean that the Supreme Lord is also everywhere. This mysterious position has to be understood by highly advanced devotees. There are three kinds of devotees — the neophyte devotee, the intermediate devotee and the advanced devotee. The neophyte devotee does not understand the techniques of devotional science, but simply offers devotional service to the Deity in the temple. The intermediate devotee understands who God is, who is a devotee, who is a nondevotee and who is innocent, and he deals with such persons differently. But a person who sees that the Lord is sitting as Paramātmā in everyone’s heart and that everything is depending or existing on the transcendental energy of the Supreme Lord is in the highest devotional position.
FAQs
This verse describes the realized vision in which one perceives the Supreme Lord as present within all living beings, and simultaneously understands that all beings rest within the Lord.
In the context of Kapila’s teachings on Sāṅkhya and devotion, Śukadeva highlights the fruit of spiritual realization—seeing the Lord as the inner controller (Paramātmā) and the shelter of all existence.
Practice respect and compassion by remembering the Lord’s presence in every heart; this reduces envy and anger and strengthens devotional, God-centered living.