68 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 13

descending knowledge. Therefore one must accept the parampara
system. And the best parampard is that which extends from Krsna
(evarn paramparé-praptam). What Krsna says, we should accept (imarh
rdjarsayo viduh). This is called the avaroha-panthd.

Brahma, however, adopted the droha-pantha. He wanted to under-
stand Krsna’s mystic power by his own limited, conceivable power, and
therefore he himself was mystified. Everyone wants to take pleasure in
his own knowledge, thinking, “‘I know something.” But in the presence
of Krsna this conception cannot stand, for one cannot bring Krsna within
the limitations of prakrti. One must submit. There is no alternative. Na
tams tarkena yojayet. This submission marks the difference between
Krsna-ites and Mayavadis.

The phrase atan-nirasana refers to the discarding of that which is ir-
relevant. (Atat means “that which is not a fact.”) Brahman is some-
times described as asthiilam ananv ahrasvam adirgham, “that which is
not large and not small, not short and not long.” (Brhad-dranyaka
Up. 5.8.8) Neti neti: “It is not this, it is not that.” But what is it? In de-
scribing a pencil, one may say, “It is not this; it is not that,” but this does
not tell us what it is. This is called definition by negation. In Bhagavad-
gitd, Krsna also explains the soul by giving negative definitions. Na
Jayate mriyate vd: “It is not born, nor does it die. You can hardly under-
stand more than this.” But what is it? It is eternal. Ajo nityah sasvato
"yam purdno na hanyate hanyamdne Sarire: “It is unborn, eternal,
ever-existing, undying and primeval. It is not slain when the body is
slain.” (Bg. 2.20) In the beginning the soul is difficult to understand,
and therefore Krsna has given negative definitions:

nainam chindanti Sastrani
nainam dahati pavakah

na cainam kledayanty apo
na Sosayati marutah

“The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can it be
burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.”
(Bg. 2.23) Krsna says, “It is not burned by fire.” Therefore, one has to
imagine what it is that is not burned by fire. This is a negative definition.
