230 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 4

(ndsti or ndstika). Since the devotee considers the word “form” (akara)
the common factor for both, he offers his respectful obeisances to the
form, although others may go on arguing about whether the Absolute has
a form or not.

In this verse the word yoga-sadnkhyayoh is very important. Yoga
means bhakti-yoga because yogis also accept the existence of the all-
pervading Supreme Soul and try to see that Supreme Soul within their
hearts. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.13.1), dhyanavasthita-tad-
gatena manasd pasyanti yarn yoginah. The devotee tries to come directly
in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas the yogi
tries to find the Supersoul within the heart by meditation. Thus, both
directly and indirectly, yoga means bhakti-yoga. Sankhya, however,
means physical study of the cosmic situation through speculative knowl-
edge. This is generally known as jndna-sastra. The Sankhyites are at-
tached to the impersonal Brahman, but the Absolute Truth is known in
three ways. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate: the Absolute
Truth is one, but some accept Him as impersonal Brahman, some as the
Supersoul existing everywhere, and some as Bhagavan, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. The central point is the Absolute Truth.

Although the impersonalists and personalists fight with one another,
they focus upon the same Parabrahman, the same Absolute Truth. In the
yoga-sastras, Krsna is described as follows: krsnam pisarigambaram am-
bujeksanam catur-bhujam sankha-gadady-udayudham. Thus the pleas-
ing appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s bodily features,
His limbs and His dress are described. The sarikhya-sastra, however,
denies the existence of the Lord’s transcendental form. The sanikhya-
Sdstra says that the Supreme Absolute Truth has no hands, no legs and no
name: hy anéma-riipa-guna-pani-padam acaksur asrotram ekam ad-
vitiyam api nadma-ripddikam nasti. The Vedic mantras say, apani-pado
Javano grahita: the Supreme Lord has no legs and hands, but He can ac-
cept whatever is offered to Him. Actually such statements accept that the
Supreme has hands and legs, but deny that He has material hands and
legs. This is why the Absolute is called aprakrta. Krsna. the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, has a sac-cid-dnanda-vigraha, a form of eter-
nity, knowledge and bliss, not a material form. The Sankhyites, or
Jiianis, deny the material form, and the devotees also know very well that
the Absolute Truth, Bhagavan, has no material form.
