Text 11] The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata 21

viddha, which indicates that He is never affected by anything materially
considered sinful. Similarly, Srimad-Bhaégavatam describes the Supreme
Personality of Godhead as being so powerful that nothing we might con-
sider abominable can affect Him. An example sometimes given to explain
the position of the Supreme Lord is that of the sun, which evaporates
urine from the earth but is never affected by contamination. The
Supreme Lord can never be accused of doing anything wrong.

When Lord Brahma went to induce Priyavrata to accept the respon-
sibility for ruling the universe, he did not go whimsically: he was
following the dictations of the Supreme Lord. Indeed, Brahma and other
genuine authorities never do anything: without His permission. The
Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart. In the beginning of
Srimad- -Bhagavatam it is said, tene brahma hrda ya ddi-kavaye: the
Lord dictated Vedic knowledge to Brahma through his heart. The more a
living entity is purified by devotional service, the more he comes in
direct contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as confirmed in

Srimad Bhagavad-gita:

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-pirvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam

yena mam upayanti te

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love. I give
the understanding by which they can come to Me.” (Bg. 10.10) Lord
Brahma, therefore, had not come to Priyavrata by his own whims:
rather, it is understood that he had been ordered to persuade Priyavrata
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities cannot be un-
derstood by material senses and who is therefore described herein as
aprameya. Thus Lord Brahmi first advised Priyavrata to hear his words
with attention and without envy.

Why one is induced to perform certain acts despite his desire to do
something else is indicated herein. One cannot disobey the orders of the
Supreme Lord, even if one is as powerful as Lord Siva. Lord Brahma.
Manu or the great sage Narada. All these authorities are certainly very
powerful, but they do not have the power to disobey the orders of the
