132 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 9

Nondevotees cannot understand the contradictions present in the
Supreme Lord or His devotees. Therefore in Bhagavad-gita the Lord
says, bhaktya mam abhidnati: the transcendental pastimes can be
understood through devotional service; to nondevotees they are incon-
ceivable. Acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet: the
Supreme Lord and His form, name, pastimes and paraphernalia are in-
conceivable to nondevotees, and one should not try to understand such
realities simply by logical arguments. They will not bring one to the right
conclusion about the Absolute Truth.

TEXT 37
aad | aragaeia aa waere: aTtfefraTZ U1 201!

sama-visama-matinam matam anusarasi yatha rajju-khandah sarpadi-

dhiyam.

sama—equal or proper; visama—and unequal or mistaken:
matinam—of those having intelligence; matam—conclusion;
anusarasi—You follow; yatha—just as; rajju-khandah—a piece of rope;
sarpa-ddi—a snake, etc.; dhiyam—of those who perceive.

TRANSLATION

A rope causes fear for a bewildered person who considers it a
snake, but not for a person with proper intelligence who knows it
to be only a rope. Similarly, You, as the Supersoul in everyone’s
heart, inspire fear or fearlessness according to one’s intelligence,
but in You there is no duality.

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita (4.11) the Lord says, ye yatha mam prapadyante
tarms tathaiva bhajamy aham: “As one surrenders unto Me, I reward
him accordingly.” The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the reservoir
of everything, including all knowledge, all truth and all contradictions.
The example cited herein is very appropriate. A rope is one truth, but
some mistake it for a snake, whereas others know it to be a rope.
Similarly, devotees who know the Supreme Personality of Godhead do
