Text 156] Lord Caitanya’s Travels to the Holy Places 377
“A pasandi is one who considers the great demigods such as Lord Brahma and Lord
Siva equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana.” (Hari-bhakti-
vilasa 1.117) The conclusion is that we should not differentiate between the
forms of the Lord. However, we should not equate the forms of the Lord with the
forms of demigods or human beings. For instance, sometimes foolish sannydsis
equate daridra-narayana with Narayana, and this is certainly offensive. To think of
the body of the Lord as material is also offensive. Unless one is instructed by a
bona fide spiritual master, he cannot perfectly understand these different forms.
Brahma-samhita confirms, vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau. One
cannot understand the differences between the forms of the Lord simply by
academic study or by reading Vedic literature. One must leam from a realized
devotee. Only then can one learn how to distinguish between one form of the
Lord and another. The conclusion is that there is no difference between the forms
of the Lord, but there is a difference between His forms and those of the
demigods.
TEXT 156
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manir yatha vibhagena
nila-pitadibhir yutah
rUpa-bhedam avapnoti
dhyana-bhedat tathacyutah
SYNONYMS
manih—jewel, specifically the jewel known as vaidurya; yathd—as;
vibhagena—separately; nila—blue; pita—yellow; adibhih—and with other col-
ors; yutah—joined; rtipa-bhedam—difference of form; avdpnoti—gets; dhydna-
bhedat—by different types of meditation; tatha—similarly; acyutah—the in-
fallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
“ ‘When the jewel known as vaidirya touches other materials, it appears to
be separated into different colors. Consequently the forms also appear dif-
ferent. Similarly, according to the meditational ecstasy of the devotee, the
Lord, who is known as Acyuta [infallible], appears in different forms, although
He is essentially one.’ ”
PURPORT
This is a verse quoted form Sri Narada-pa/icaratra.
