Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 3
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
योऽविज्ञाताहृतस्तस्य पुरुषस्य सखेश्वर: । यन्न विज्ञायते पुम्भिर्नामभिर्वा क्रियागुणै: ॥ ३ ॥
yo ’vijñātāhṛtas tasya puruṣasya sakheśvaraḥ yan na vijñāyate pumbhir nāmabhir vā kriyā-guṇaiḥ
我所说的“不可知者”，正是至上人格神薄伽梵——众生灵的主宰与永恒之友。众生无法凭物质的名相、行为或属性来认识祂；因此对受缚之魂而言，祂恒常显为不可知。
Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unknown to the conditioned soul, He is sometimes described in Vedic literatures as nirākāra, avijñāta or avāṅ-mānasa-gocara. Actually it is a fact that the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be perceived by material senses as far as His form, name, quality, pastimes or paraphernalia are concerned. However, when one is spiritually advanced, one can understand the name, form, qualities, pastimes and paraphernalia of the Supreme Lord. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) . Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: one can understand in truth the Supreme Personality of Godhead only when one is engaged in devotional service. Ordinary persons engaged in pious and impious activities cannot understand the form, name and activities of the Lord. The devotee, however, can know the Personality of Godhead in many respects. He can understand that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that His address is Goloka Vṛndāvana and that His activities are all spiritual. Because the Lord’s form and activities cannot be understood by materialistic people, He is described by the śāstras as nirākāra, that is, one whose form cannot be ascertained by a materialistic person. This does not mean that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no form; it means that it is not understood by the karmīs, or fruitive actors. His form is described in Brahma-saṁhitā as sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha. As confirmed by the Padma Purāṇa:
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord is the living being’s intimate friend and controller, yet He remains unrecognized by materially absorbed people.
In the allegorical teaching of Purañjana, Nārada warns the king that ritualistic and worldly absorption can “carry away” one’s awareness, making the ever-present Lord difficult to perceive.
Regular hearing and chanting about the Lord, along with mindful living, helps one notice the divine guidance already present within and beyond external labels like names, roles, and achievements.