Shloka 31
Divinity and Divine Service
Bhagavān and Bhakti as the Supreme Dharma
तया विलसितेष्वेषु गुणेषु गुणवानिव । अन्त:प्रविष्ट आभाति विज्ञानेन विजृम्भित: ॥ ३१ ॥
tayā vilasiteṣv eṣu guṇeṣu guṇavān iva antaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhāti vijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥ
Di tengah guṇa yang dizahirkan oleh tenaga itu, Dia tampak seolah-olah memiliki guṇa; namun walaupun memasuki ke dalamnya, Dia tetap bersinar sepenuhnya dengan pengetahuan rohani-Nya yang transenden.
The living entities are separated parts and parcels of the Lord, and the conditioned living entities, who are unfit for the spiritual kingdom, are strewn within the material world to enjoy matter to the fullest extent. As Paramātmā and eternal friend of the living entities, the Lord, by one of His plenary portions, accompanies the living entities to guide them in their material enjoyment and to become witness to all activities. While the living entities enjoy the material conditions, the Lord maintains His transcendental position without being affected by the material atmosphere. In the Vedic literatures ( śruti ) it is said that there are two birds in one tree. One of them is eating the fruit of the tree, while the other is witnessing the actions. The witness is the Lord, and the fruit-eater is the living entity. The fruit-eater (living entity) has forgotten his real identity and is overwhelmed in the fruitive activities of the material conditions, but the Lord (Paramātmā) is always full in transcendental knowledge. That is the difference between the Supersoul and the conditioned soul. The conditioned soul, the living entity, is controlled by the laws of nature, while the Paramātmā, or the Supersoul, is the controller of the material energy.
FAQs
It explains that when the material modes manifest through His energy, the Lord may seem to possess those modes, but He actually remains the indwelling witness beyond them.
Suta Gosvami speaks this to the sages at Naimisharanya while describing the Lord’s transcendence and presence within creation.
By cultivating realized knowledge and devotion, one learns to see the Lord as the inner guide beyond changing moods and circumstances (the gunas), and to act without being trapped by them.