204 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 5
in His Paramatma feature. As confirmed in Brahma-samhita: andan-
tara-stham paramdnu-cayantara-stham. The Lord is situated in this
universe as Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu. He is also
situated within every atom. According to the Vedic statement: isavdsyam
idam sarvam. The Supreme Lord is situated everywhere, and wherever
He is situated is His temple. We even offer respects to a temple from a
distant place, and all living entities should similarly be offered respect.
This is different from the theory of pantheism, which holds that every-
thing is God. Everything has a relationship with God because God is situ-
ated everywhere. We should not make any particular distinction between
the poor and the rich like the foolish worshipers of daridra-narayana.
Narayana is present in the rich as well as the poor. One should not simply
think Narayana is situated among the poor. He is everywhere. An ad-
vanced devotee will offer respects to everyone—even to cats and dogs.
vidyd-vina ya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
Suni caiva sva-pake ca
panditah sama-darsinah
“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a
learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater
[outcaste].” (Be. 5.18) This sama-darsinah, equal vision, should not be
mistaken to mean that the individual is the same as the Supreme Lord.
They are always distinct. Every individual person is different from the
Supreme Lord. It is a mistake to equate the individual living entity with
the Supreme Lord on the plea of vivikta-drk, sama-drk. The Lord is al-
ways in an exalted position, even though He agrees to live everywhere.
Srila Madhvacarya, quoting Padma Purana, states: vivikta-drsti-jivanarn
dhisnyataya paramesvarasya bheda-drstih. “One who has clear vision
and who is devoid of envy can see that the Supreme Lord is separate
from all living entities, although He is situated in every living entity.”
Madhvacarya further quotes from Padma Purana:
upapadayet paratmanam
jivebhyo yah pade pade
bhedenaiva na caitasmat
priyo visnos tu kascana
