Adi-lila, Chapter 7 107
cites evidence from the Gita, Visnu Purana, etc., which are smrti-prasthana. No one
can avoid the Personality of Godhead in the statements of Bhagavad-gita and other
Vedic literatures such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Lord Caitanya therefore
quotes a passage from Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 7.5).

TEXT 118
wcqaasears asres fafa cx 1an!
SAPS AVATA AHWR VAS FAR vse I
apareyam itas tv anyam
prakrtim viddhi me param
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
SYNONYMS

apara—inferior energy; iyam—this material world; jtah—beyond this; tu—but;
anyam—another; prakrtim—energy; viddhi—you must know; me—of Me; param—
which is superior energy; /iva-bhutam—they are the living entities; »:>aha-baho—O
mighty-armed; yaya—by which; idam—this material world; dharyate—is being con-
ducted; jagat—the cosmic manifestation.

TRANSLATION

“Besides the inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy
of Mine, which is all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are
sustaining the universe.’

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita it is explained that the five elements earth, water, fire, air and
ether constitute the gross energy of the Absolute Truth and that there are also
three subtle energies, namely, the mind, intelligence and false ego, or identification
with the phenomenal world. Thus the entire cosmic manifestation is divided into
eight energies, all of which are inferior. As explained in Bhagavad-gita (mama maya
duratyaya), the inferior energy known as maya is so strong that although the living
entity does not belong to this energy, due to the superior strength of the inferior
energy the living entity (jiva-bhuta) forgets his real position and identifies with it.
Krsna says distinctly that beyond the material energy there is a superior energy
which is known as the jiva-bhuta or living entities. When in contact with the material
energy, this superior energy conducts all the activities of the entire material
phenomenal world.

The supreme cause is Krsna (janmady asya yatah), who is the origin of all energies,
which work variously. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has both inferior and
superior energies, and the difference between them is that the superior energy is
factual whereas the inferior energy is a reflection of the superior. A reflection of
