16 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

The root cause of the material manifestation described here is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead
expands Himself and takes charge of the three qualities of the material
world. Visnu takes charge of the modes of goodness, Brahma takes charge
of the modes of passion, and Lord Siva takes charge of the modes of
ignorance. Brahma, by the modes of passion, creates this manifestation,
Lerd Visnu maintains this manifestation by the modes of goodness, and
Lord Siva annihilates it by the modes of ignorance. The whole creation
ultimately rests in the Supreme Lord. He is the cause of creation, main-
tenance and dissolution. And when the whole manifestation is dissolved, in
its subtle form as the energy of the Lord, it rests within the body of the
Supreme Lord.

“At the present,” the demigods prayed, “the Supreme Lord Krsna is
appearing just for the maintenance of this manifestation.” Actually the
Supreme Cause is one, but, being deluded by the three modes of material
nature, less intelligent persons see that the material world is manifested
through different causes. Those who are intelligent can see that the cause
is one, Krsna. As it is stated in the Brahma-samhita: sarva-karana-karanam.
Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of all causes.
Brahma is the deputed agent for creation, Visnu is the expansion of Krsna
for maintenance, and Lord Siva is the expansion of Krsna for dissolution.

“Our dear Lord,” the demigods prayed, “‘it is very difficult to under-
stand Your eternal form of personality. People in general are unable to
understand Your actual form; therefore You are personally descending to
exhibit Your original eternal form. Somehow people can understand the
different incarnations of Your Lordship, but they are puzzled to under-
stand the eternal form of Krsna with two hands, moving among human
beings exactly like one of them. This eternal form of Your Lordship is
ever increasing in transcendental pleasure for the devotees. But for the
nondevotees, this form is very dangerous.” As stated in the Bhagavad-gita,
Krsna is very pleasing to the sadhu. It is said, paritrandya sadhiinam. But
this form is very dangerous for the demons because Krsna also descends to
kill the demons. He is, therefore, simultaneously pleasing to the devotees
and dangerous to the demons.

“Our dear lotus-eyed Lord, You are the source of pure goodness. There
are many great sages who simply by samadhi, or transcendentally medi-
tating upon Your lotus feet and thus: being absorbed in Your thought, have
easily transformed the great ocean of nescience created by the material na-
ture to no more than water in a calf’s hoof print.” The purpose of medita-
tion is to focus the mind upon the Personality of Godhead, beginning from
