116 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 3
material conception.” We cannot concoct the form and attributes of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. We must simply accept the description
given in Vedic literatures about the Lord’s form and activities. As stated
in Brahma-samhita (5.29):
cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vurksa-
laksaurtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-Sata-sambhrama-sevyamdnam
govindam ddi-purusam tam aham bhajami
‘I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor, who is
tending the cows, yielding all desires, in abodes built with spiritual gems
and surrounded by millions of purpose trees. He is always served with
great reverence and affection by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of
fortune.”’ We can have some conception of the Absolute Truth, His form
and His attributes simply by reading the descriptions given in Vedic
literatures and authoritative statements given by exalted personalities
like Brahma, Narada, Sukadeva Gosvami and others. Srila Ripa Gosvami
says, atah sri-krsna-namédi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih: “We cannot
conceive the name, form and qualities of Sri Krsna through our material
senses. Because of this, other names for the Lord are adhoksaja and
aprakrta, which indicate that He is beyond any material senses. Out of
His causeless mercy upon His devotees, the Lord appeared before
Maharaja Nabhi. Similarly, when we are engaged in the Lord’s devo-
tional service, the Lord reveals Himself to us. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah. This is the only way to understand the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, bhak-
tya mam abhianati yavan yas cdsmi tattvatah: one can understand the
Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service. There is no
other way. We have to hear from the authorities and from the sdstras and
consider the Supreme Lord in terms of their statements. We cannot
imagine or concoct forms and attributes of the Lord.
TEXT 6
qhamauactad wretacalsa taeda
THITT ATT Pas Tea aheaents 18
