Adi-lila, Chapter 1 53

is the creation itself. But neither cause nor effect existed in the beginning;
they emanated from tne Supreme Personality of Godhead, as did the energy of
time. This is stated in the Veddanta-sitra (janmady asya yatah). The source of birth
of the cosmic manifestation or mahat-tattva is the Personality of Godhead. This is
confirmed throughout the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. \n Bhagavad-gita
(10.8) the Lord says, aham sarvasya prabhavah: “| am the fountainhead of all
emanations.”” The material cosmos, being temporary, is sometimes manifest and
sometimes unmanifest, but its energy emanates from the Supreme Absolute Lord.
Before the creation there was neither cause nor effect, but the Supreme Personality
of Godhead existed with His full opulence and energy.

The words pascad aham indicate that the Lord exists after the dissolution of
the cosmic manifestation. When the material world is dissolved, the Lord still exists
personally in the Vaikunthas. During the creation the Lord also exists as He is in
the Vaikunthas, and He also exists as the Supersoul within the material universes.
This is confirmed in the Brahma-samhitd (5.37). Goloka eva nivasati: although He is
perfectly and eternally present in Goloka Vrndavana in Vaikuntha, He is neverthe-
less all-pervading (akhiladtma-bhitah). The all-pervading feature of the Lord is called
the Supersoul. In Bhagavad-gfta it is said, aharhn krtsnasya jagatah prabhavah: the cos-
mic manifestation is a display of the energy of the Supreme Lord. The material
elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego) display the
inferior energy of the Lord, and the living entities are His superior energy. Since the
energy of the Lord is not different from Him, in fact everything that exists is Krsna
in His impersonal feature. Sunshine, sunlight and heat are not different from the
sun, and yet simultaneously they are distinct energies of the sun. Similarly, the cos-
mic manifestation and the living entities are energies of the Lord, and they are con-
sidered to be simultaneously one with and different from Him. The Lord therefore
says, “Il am everything,” because everything is His energy and is therefore non-
different from Him.

Yo ‘vasisyeta so 'smy aham indicates that the Lord is the balance that exists after
the dissolution of the creation. The spiritual manifestation never vanishes. It belongs
to the internal energy of the Supreme Lord and exists eternally. When the external
manifestation is withdrawn, the spiritual activities in Goloka and the rest of the
Vaikunthas continue, unrestricted by material time, which has no existence in the
spiritual world. Therefore in Bhagavad-gita it is said, yad gatva na nivartante tad
dhama paramam mama: ‘‘The abode from which no one returns to this material
world is the supreme abode of the Lord.” (Bg. 15.6)

TEXT 54
ACSA HE ATICIS J ABTS Bala |
CHeatrrace ATMS TITS Ae SA nes 4

rte 'rtharm yat pratiyeta
na pratiyeta catmani
