1580 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 31

the sun is unaffected by all these changes. Similarly, although the Supreme
Personality of Godhead is the original cause of the total cosmic manifesta-
tion, He is unaffected by the material existence. This is confirmed in
Bhagavad-gita:
bhimir apo ’nalo vayuh
kharh mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha

“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—all to-
gether these eight comprise My separated material energies.” (Bg. 7.4)

Although the material or physical elements are the energy of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are separate. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead is therefore not affected by material conditions.
The Veddnta-siitra confirms (janmddy asya yatah) that the creation, main-
tenance and dissolution of this cosmic manifestation are due to the exist-
ence of the Supreme Lord. Nonetheless the Lord is unaffected by all these
changes in the material elements. This is indicated by the word pravaha
(emanation). The sun always shines brilliantly and is not affected by
clouds or darkness. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is al-
ways present in His spiritual energy and is not affected by the material
emanations. Brahma-samhitd confirms:

isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-dnanda-vigrahah

anddir ddir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam

“Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Godhead. He has an
eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other
origin, and He is the prime cause of all causes.” (Bs. 5.1)

Although He is the supreme cause, the cause of all causes, He is still
parama, transcendental, and His form is sac-cid-ananda, eternal, spiritual
bliss. Krsna is the shelter of everything, and this is the verdict of all scrip-
ture. Krsna is the remote cause, and material nature is the immediate
cause of the cosmic manifestation. In the Caitanya-caritdmrta it is said that
understanding prakrti, or nature, to be the cause of everything is like
understanding the nipples on the neck of a goat to be the cause of milk.
Material nature is the immediate cause of the cosmic manifestation, but
the original cause is Narayana, Krsna. Sometimes people think that the
