236 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 4
sun-god and Durga. This is called pavicopadsand. Daksa, however, wanted
to worship not an imaginary form, but the supreme form of Lord Krsna.

In this regard, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura describes the dif-
ference between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and an ordinary
living being. As pointed out in a previous verse, sarvarh pumdn veda
gundms ca taj-jnio na veda sarva-jniam anantam ide: the omnipotent
Supreme Lord knows everything, but the living being does not actually
know the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-
gitd, ‘I know everything, but no one knows Me.” This is the difference
between the Supreme Lord and an ordinary living being. In a prayer in
Srimad-Bhagavatam, Queen Kunti says, ““My dear Lord, You exist inside
and outside, yet no one can see You.”

The conditioned soul cannot understand the Supreme Personality of
Godhead by speculative knowledge or by imagination. One must
therefore know the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the grace of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. He reveals Himself, but He cannot be
understood by speculation. As stated in Srimad-Bhaégavatam (10.14.29):

athapi te deva padambuja-dvaya-
prasdda-lesanugrhita eva hi
Jandti tattvam bhagavan-mahimno
na canya eko ’pi ciram vicinvan
“My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your
lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those
who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are
unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for
many years.”

This is the verdict of the sdstra. An ordinary man may be a great phi-
losopher and may speculate upon what the Absolute Truth is, what His
form is and where He is existing, but he cannot understand these truths.
Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah: one can under-
stand the Supreme Personality of Godhead only through devotional ser-
vice. This is also explained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Him-
self in Bhagavad-gita (18.55). Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas
cdsmi tattvatah: ‘‘One can understand the Supreme Personality of God-
head as He is only by devotional service.” Unintelligent persons want to
