Introduction

The conception of God and the conception of Absolute Truth are not
on the same level. The Srimad-Bhdgavatam hits on the target of the
Absolute Truth. The conception of God indicates the controller, whereas
the conception of the Absolute Truth indicates the summum bonum or
the ultimate source of all energies. There is no difference of opinion about
the personal feature of God as the controller because a controller cannot
be impersonal. Of course modern government, especially democratic
government, is impersonal to some extent, but ultimately the chief
executive head is a person, and the impersonal feature of government is
subordinate to the personal feature. So without a doubt whenever we refer
to control over others we must admit the existence of a personal feature.
Because there are different controllers for different managerial positions,
there may be many small gods. According to the Bhagavad-gita any
controller who has some specific extraordinary power is called a vibhiti-
mat sattva, or controller empowered by the Lord. There are many vibhiti-
mat sattvas, controllers or gods with various specific powers, but the
Absolute Truth is one without a second. This Srimad-Bhagavatam desig-
nates the Absolute Truth or the summum bonum as the param satyam.

The author of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Vyasadeva, first offers his
respectful obeisances unto the param satyam (Absolute Truth), and be-
cause the param satyam is the ultimate source of all energies, the param
satyam is the Supreme Person. The gods or the controllers are undoubtedly
persons, but the param satyam from whom the gods derive powers of
control is the Supreme Person. The Sanskrit word isvara (controller)
conveys the import of God, but the Supreme Person is called the param-
esvara, or the supreme isvara. The Supreme Person or paramesvara is the
supreme conscious personality, and because He does not derive any power
from any other source, He is supremely independent. In the Vedic litera-
tures Brahmi is described as the supreme god or the head of all other gods
like Indra, Candra, Varuna, etc., but the Srimad-Bhagavatam confirms that
even Brahma is not independent as far as his power and knowledge are
concerned. He received knowledge in the form of the Vedas from the
Supreme Person who resides within the heart of every living being. That
Supreme Personality knows everything directly and indirectly. Individual
infinitesimal persons, who are parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality,
may know directly and indirectly everything about their bodies or external

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