Text 32]
The Activities of the Pracetās
1527
material world, and this is called  paraṁ padam .  Āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padam  ( Bhāg.  10.2.32). Merging into the impersonal effulgence of the Lord is called  paraṁ padam , but there is a higher transcendental position, which is the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate  ( Bhāg.  1.2.11). The Absolute Truth is realized first as impersonal Brahman, then as Paramātmā, and finally as Bhagavān. Thus the Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān, is  parataḥ parāt , beyond Brahman and Paramātmā realization. In this connection, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī points out that  parataḥ parāt  means “better than the best.” The best is the spiritual world, and it is known as Brahman. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, is known as Parabrahman. Therefore  parataḥ parāt  means “better than Brahman realization.”
As will be explained in the next verse, the Pracetās planned to ask the Lord for something that has no limit. The Lord’s pastimes, qualities, forms and names are all unlimited. There is no limit to His name, forms, pastimes, creation and paraphernalia. The living entity cannot conceive of the unlimitedness of the unlimited. However, if living entities are engaged in hearing about the unlimited potencies of the Supreme Lord, they are factually connected directly to the unlimited. Such understanding of the unlimited becomes unlimited by hearing and chanting.
TEXT 32
पारिजातेऽज्जसा लब्धे सारङ्गोऽन्यन्न सेवते । त्वदङ्घ्रिमूलमासाद्य साक्षात्किं किं वृणीमहि ॥३२॥
pārijāte 'njasā labdhe sāraṅgo 'nyan na sevate tvad-aṅghri-mūlam āsādya sākṣāt kiṁ kiṁ vṛṇṭmahi
pārijāte —the celestial tree known as  pārijāta ;  añjasā —completely;  labdhe —having achieved;  sāraṅgaḥ —a bee;  anyat —other;  na sevate —does not resort to;  tvat-aṅghri —Your lotus feet;  mūlam —the root of everything;  āsādya —having approached;  sākṣāt —directly;  kiṁ —what;  kiṁ —what;  vṛṇṭmahi —may we ask.
TRANSLATION
Dear Lord, when the bee approaches the celestial tree called the  pārijāta , it certainly does not leave the tree, because there is no need for such