242 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 9
stiksmam—very subtle; bhita-indriya—composed of elements and
senses; GSaya-maye—and that filled with desires (the mind); vitatam—
spread out; dadarsa —found.
TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, who is celebrated as atma-yoni, having been born
without a mother, was struck with wonder. Thus he took shelter of
the lotus flower, and when he had been purified after undergoing
severe austerities for many hundreds of years, he could see that
the cause of all causes, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was
spread throughout his own body and senses, just as aroma, al-
though very subtle, is perceived in the earth.

PURPORT

Here the statement of self-realization aham brahmasmi, which is in-
terpreted by the Mayadvada philosophy to mean “I am the Supreme
Lord,” is explained. The Supreme Lord is the original seed of everything
(janmady asya yatah. aharh sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvarn
pravartate). Thus the Supreme Lord extends everywhere, even
throughout our bodies, because our bodies are made of material energy,
which is the Lord’s separated energy. One should realize that since the
Supreme Lord spreads throughout one’s body and since the individual
soul is a part of the Supreme Lord, everything is Brahman (sarvam khalv
idam brahma). This realization was achieved by Lord Brahma after he
was purified, and it is possible for everyone. When one is completely in
knowledge of aharn brahmasmi, he thinks, “I am part of the Supreme
Lord, my body is made of His material energy, and therefore I have no
separate existence. Yet although the Supreme Lord is spread everywhere,
He is different from me.” This is the philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda-
tattva. An example given in this regard is that of the aroma within the
earth. In the earth there are aromas and colors, but one cannot see them.
Actually we find that when flowers grow from the earth, they appear
with different colors and aromas, which they have certainly gathered
from the earth, although in the earth we cannot see them. Similarly, the
Supreme Lord, by His different energies, spreads throughout one’s body
and soul, although we cannot see Him. An intelligent man, however, can
see the Supreme Lord existing everywhere. Anddantara-stha-paramanu-
