Text 3] A Description of Jambiadvipa 93

subtler form is self-effulgent and beyond the modes of nature. O
my lord, please describe vividly how that form, which covers the
entire universe, is perceived.

PURPORT

Maharaja Pariksit had already been advised by his spiritual master,
Sukadeva Gosvami, to think of the universal form of the Lord, and
therefore, following the advice of his spiritual master, he continuously
thought of that form. The universal form is certainly material. but
because everything is an expansion of the energy of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, ultimately nothing is material. Therefore Pariksit
Maharaja’s mind was saturated with spiritual consciousness. Srila Ripa
Gosvami has stated:

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah

mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

Everything, even that which is material, is connected with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Therefore everything should be engaged in the
service of the Lord. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura translates
this verse as follows:

“hari-sevaya yaha haya anukila
visaya baliya tahara tyage haya bhula

“One should not give up anything connected with the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead. thinking it material or enjoyable for the material
senses.” Even the senses, when purified, are spiritual. When Maharaja
Pariksit was thinking of the universal form of the Lord, his mind was
certainly situated on the transcendental platform. Therefore although he
might not have had any reason to be concerned with detailed information
of the universe, he was thinking of it in relationship with the Supreme
Lord, and therefore such geographical knowledge was not material but
transcendental. Elsewhere in Srimad-Bhdgavatam (1.5.20) Narada Muni
has said, idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah: the entire universe is also
