124 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 2
confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (13.3): ksetra-jriam capi mam viddhi sarva-
ksetresu bharata. Lord Krsna is the ksetra-jfa, or Supersoul, of all living
entities. He is the original source of all expansions of the Personality of
Godhead. There are hundreds and thousands of plenary expansions of
Visnu, such as Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Vasudeva, but
here in this material world, the Visvatma, the Supersoul for all living en-
tities, is Ksirodakasayi Visnu. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.61),
isvarah sarva-bhitanam hrd-deSe ’rjuna tisthati: “The Supreme Lord is
situated in the heart of all living entities, O Arjuna.” Krsna is actually
Visvatma by His plenary expansion as visnu-tattva, yet because of His
affection for His devotees, He acts as Supersoul to give them directions
(sarvasya céham hrdi sannivisto mattah smrtir jidnam apohanari ca).

The affairs of the Supersoul pertain to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, but Krsna
took compassion on Devaki, His devotee, because He understood her fear
of Karnsa’s persecution. A pure devotee is always fearful of material ex-
istence. No one knows what will happen next, for one may have to
change his body at any moment (tatha dehdntara-praptih). Knowing this
fact, a pure devotee acts in such a way that he will not have his life
spoiled by being obliged to accept another body and undergo the
tribulations of material existence. This is bhayam, or fear. Bhayam
dvitiydbhinivesatah syat (Bhég. 11.2.37). This fear is due to material ex-
istence. Properly speaking, everyone should always be alert and fearful
of material existence, but although everyone is prone to be affected by
the ignorance of material existence, the Supreme Personality of God-
head, Krsna, is always alert to the protection of His devotees. Krsna is so
kind and affectionate toward His devotees that He helps them by giving
them the intelligence by which to exist in this material world without
forgetting Him even for a moment. The Lord says:

, tesam evanukampartham
aham ajiidnajam tamah
nasayamy datma-bhdavastho
Jiidna-dipena bhasvata

“Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with
the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.”
(Bg. 10.11)
