324 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

of his gratitude, his voice choked up, and he was not able to reply to the
words of the Lord. Tears glided from his eyes, and he could not say any-
thing. He simply stood silently before the Lord.

After testing Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu, Bhrgumuni re-
turned to the assembly of great sages on the bank of the River Sarasvati
and described his experience. After hearing him with great attention, the
sages concluded that of all the predominating deities, certainly Visnu is
situated in the mode of goodness in the highest degree. In the Srimad-
Bhagavatam, these great sages are described as brahma-vadindm. Brahma-
vadinadm means those who talk about the Absolute Truth but have not
yet come to a conclusion. Generally brahma-vadi refers to the imper-
sonalists or to those who are students of the Vedas. It is to be understood,
therefore, that all the gathered sages were serious students of Vedic litera-
ture, but had not come to definite conclusions as to who is the Supreme
Absolute Personality of Godhead.

After hearing of Bhrgumuni’s experience in meeting all three predomi-
nating deities, Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, and Lord Visnu, the sages con-
cluded that Lord Visnu is the Supreme Truth, the Personality of Godhead.
It is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that after hearing the details from
Bhrgumuni, the sages were astonished because although Lord Brahma and
Lord Siva were immediately agitated, Lord Visnu, in spite of being kicked
by Bhrgumuni, was not agitated in the least. The example is given that
small lamps may become agitated by a little breeze, but the greatest lamp
or the greatest illuminating source, the sun, is never moved, even by the
greatest hurricane. One’s greatness has to be estimated by one’s ability to
tolerate provoking situations. The sages gathered on the bank of the River
Sarasvati concluded that if anyone wants actual peace and freedom from
all fearfulness, he should take shelter of the lotus feet of Visnu. If Lord
Brahma and Lord Siva lost their peaceful attitude upon a slight provoca-
tion, how could they maintain the peace and tranquility of their devotees?
As for Lord Visnu, however, it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that anyone
who accepts Lord Visnu or Krsna as the supreme friend attains the highest
perfection of peaceful life.

The sages thus concluded that by following the principles of vaisnava-
dharma, one becomes actually perfect. But if one follows all the religious
principles of a particular sect and does not become advanced in under-
standing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, all such labor of
love is fruitless. To execute religious principles means to come to the
platform of perfect knowledge. If one comes to the platform of perfect
knowledge, then he will be disinterested in material affairs. Perfect know-
