78 Sti Isopanisad

| am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is
immortal and imperishable, eternal, the constitutional
position of ultimate happiness. (Gita, 14/27)

Brahman, Paramaétman and Bhagavan are three angles of vision
of the same Absolute Truth. Brahman is the phase of the
Absolute Truth most perceptible to the beginner. Paramdtman is
the phase of the Absolute Truth for those who have progressed.
And Bhagavan is the ultimate realization of the Absolute Truth.
This is confirmed in the Gita, where the Lord says that He is
the ultimate concept of the Absolute Truth. He is the source of
Brahma-jyoti, as well as of the all-pervading Paramatman feature.

As He says that He is the ultimate reservoir of the Brahma-
Jyoti, or impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth, so also
He says in the Gita that there is no need of explaining His
unlimited potency: it can be summarized in short that, by His
one plenary portion—the all-pervading Paramatman—He main-
tains the complete material cosmic creation. And in the Spiritual
World also He maintains all manifestations. Therefore, in the
Sruti mantra of .Sri Isopanisad, He is addressed as Pitan,
the ultimate Maintainer.

The Personality of Godhead, Sri Krgna, is always full with
transcendental bliss. When Ie was present at Vrndavana in India
5,000 years ago, He always remained in transcendental bliss,
even from the beginning of His childhood pastimes. The killing
of varieties of demons, such as Agha, Baka, Pittana and Pralamba
were also pleasure excursions for Him. When He was within His
village He was enjoying with His mother, sisters and friends as the
naughty Butter Thief, and everyone of His associates was
enjoying celestial bliss by His stealing. ‘The Lord is known as the
Butter Thief, but the term is never used in a derogatory sense.
The term Butter Thief, in the case of the Lord, is used with the
understanding of the pleasure of Ilis pure devotees. Everything
that was done by the Lord at Vrndavana was for the pleasure of
Ilis associates there. Such manifestations were created by Him
