Text 36] Creation of the Universal Form 253

see this visva-rupa, yet although he was able to see the Lord’s innumerable
hands and mouths, he was unable to see Him completely. Since Arjuna
was unable to estimate the length and breadth of the potency of the Lord,
who else would be able to do so? One may only indulge in miscalculation
like the frog philosopher. The frog philosopher wanted to estimate the
length and breadth of the Pacific Ocean by his experience of a well three
cubic feet large, and thus he began to puff himself up to become as big as
the Pacific @cean, but at last he burst and died by this process. This
story is applicable to the mental philosophers who, under the illusion of
the Lord’s external energy, indulge in estimating the length and breadth of
the Supreme Lord. The best path is to become a cool-headed, submissive
devotee of the Lord, try to hear about the Lord from the bona fide
spiritual master, and thus serve the Lord in transcendental loving service,
as suggested in the previous verse.

TEXT 36
TET BITTE TUT TAPITT |
aif Et: at aed FreraPparTZ 1124

tathapi kirtayamy anga
yatha-mati yatha-srutam

kirtim hareh svam satkartum
giram anyabhidhasatim

tatha—therefore; api—although it is so; kirtayami—I do describe; anga—
O Vidura; yatha—as much as; mati—intelligence; yatha—as much as;
srutam—heard; kirtim—glories; hareh—of the Lord; ssam—own; satkartum—
just purify ; giram—speeches; anyabhidha—otherwise; asatim—unchaste.

TRANSLATION

In spite of my inability, whatever I have been able to hear [from the
spiritual master] and whatever I could assimilate, I am now describing, in
glorification of the Lord by pure speech, for otherwise my power of
speaking would remain unchaste.

PURPORT

The purification of the conditioned soul necessitates purification of his
consciousness. By the presence of consciousness, the presence of the
transcendental soul is verified, and as soon as consciousness leaves the
body, the material body is not active. Consciousness is perecived, therefore,
