108 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 12
conception, the cosmic manifestation, consisting of both matter and
spirit, is not different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. [darn
hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah: “This cosmic manifestation is also the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, although it appears different from
Him.” In Bhagavad-gita (9.4) the Lord says:
maya tatam idam sarvam
Jagad avyakta-mirtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhiitani
na caham tesv avasthitah

“By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All
beings are in Me, but I am not in them.” Thus although someone may say
that the Supreme Person is different from the cosmic manifestation, ac-
tually He is not. The Lord says, mayd tatam idam sarvam: “In My im-
personal feature I am spread throughout the world.” Therefore, this
world is not different from Him. The difference is a difference in names.
For example, whether we speak of gold earrings, gold bangles or gold
necklaces, ultimately they are all gold. In a similar way, all the different
manifestations of matter and spirit are ultimately one in the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Ekam evddvitiyam brahma. This is the Vedic
version (Chandogya Upanisad 6.2.1). There is oneness because every-
thing emanates from the Supreme Brahman. The example already given
is that there is no difference between a golden earring and the gold mine
as it is. The Vaisesika philosophers, however, because of their Mayavada
conception, create differences. They say, brahma satyam jagan mithya:
“The Absolute Truth is real, and the cosmic manifestation is false.”’ But
why should the jagat be considered mithya? The jagat is an emanation
from Brahman. Therefore the jagat is also truth.

Vaisnavas, therefore, do not consider the jagat to be mithyd; rather,
they regard everything as reality in connection with the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead.

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah

nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairdgyam ucyate
