Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

So let us look at the section overview of 9th chapter so that we understand what is happening:

Chapter 9 overview 

We have discussed 1-3: Developing kevalabhakti by knowledge about Krishna – the glory, knowledge about Krishna that will lead to pure devotional service.

The second section is:

4-10: Krishna’s inconceivable relationship with the material world

 

Bg 9.4

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ
jagad avyakta-mūrtinā
mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni
na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ

Word for word: 

mayā — by Me; tatam — pervaded; idam — this; sarvam — all; jagat — cosmic manifestation; avyakta–mūrtinā— by the unmanifested form; mat–sthāni — in Me; sarva–bhūtāni — all living entities; na — not; ca — also; aham— I; teṣu — in them; avasthitaḥ — situated.

Translation: 

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.

 

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ, this sarvaṁ Jagat is pervaded by Me,

avyakta-mūrtinā, in my un-manifested form

mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni, that the whole world is situated in Me 

na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ, but I am not situated in this, in this world.

What is this referring to? 

Sri Krishna is stating the definition of His relationship with the material world by explaining that mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ, He pervades in all of existence, now how does Sri Krishna pervades there are various levels. 

One is whatever exists is His energy only, material energy or spiritual that is He has talked about in 7th chapter already

And then He also says Sutre Mani Ganayeva, He is pervading everything in imminence we talked about 7.8 to 7.11, He is like the thread in the neckless similarly He is underlining unifying aspect of all the creation so that is there.

Here He is saying:

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ
jagad avyakta-mūrtinā

So avyakta-mūrtinā is unmanifested form generally this is referred to the Brahma Jyoti. This can also be referred to the energy of the Lord, Srila Prabhupada has mentioned in different context that everything eminent from Sri Krishna’s energy so everything can be used in Sri Krishna’s service.  

jagad avyakta-mūrtinā, generally this is referred to us Brahma Jyoti, Sri Krishna is pervading all existence through Brahma Jyoti.

mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni, mat-sthāni that sarva-bhūtāni that actually all living beings are situated in Me, how they all are situated in Me? This is referred to the Super Soul aspect, Super Soul is with all living beings. He sustains everything, mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni.

na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ, but I am not situated in them, what does this means? This refers to Sri Krishan’s transcendence. Krishna exists beyond material world He exists in spiritual world, so He is saying I am not situated in these things. na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ, I am not situated. Sri Krishna has talked about this point in 7th chapter also when He talked about His relationship with the modes in 7.12 & 13. 7.12 He says,
ye caiva sāttvikā bhāvā

rājasās tāmasāś ca ye

matta eveti tān viddhi

na tv ahaṁ teṣu te mayi

Know that all states of being – be they of goodness, passion or ignorance – are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything, but I am independent. I am not under the modes of material nature, for they, on the contrary, are within Me.

tribhir guṇa-mayair bhāvair

ebhiḥ sarvam idaṁ jagat

mohitaṁ nābhijānāti

mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam

Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible.

 I am not situated in them, they are situated in Me. So first of all He is saying that He is not exhausted by pervading in them then He says in 7.13 Triguna Maya Bhariyam… I am beyond all this, I am transcendental to three modes all living entities are bewildered by three mode but I am transcendental to three modes and here He is saying na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ, na cāhaṁ that I am not situated in this. Srila Prabhupada emphasised that Krishna cannot be understood by material sense perception He is understood by spiritual revelation Svam Me Sparatuda, He has quoted several time He is quoting once again over here in this Purport, then Srila Prabhupada explain pervadness through influence through power like king pervades his kingdom or a ruler pervaded his rule through the influence so like that Krishna pervades through His energies, whatever is happening is through interaction of His energies and that is how He controls.

End of transcription.