Bhagavad Gita -Srila Prabhupada 521

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is -Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The Universal Form Chapter 11: Verse-54 For the beginners in devotional service to the Lord, temple worship is essential, and this is confirmed in the Vedic literature Svetäsvatara Upanisad 6.23 yasya deve parä bhaktir yathä deve tathä gurau tasyaite kathitä hy arthäh prakäsante mahätmanah PURPORT One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by the spiritual master, in whom he has similar unflinching faith, can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by revelation. One cannot understand krsna by mental speculation. For one who does not take personal training under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, it is impossible to even begin to understand Krsna. The word tu is specifically used here to indicate that no other process can be used, can be recommended, or can be successful in understanding Krsna. The personal forms of Krsna, the two-handed form and the four-handed, are completely different from the temporary universal form shown to Arjuna. The four-handed form of Näräyana and the two-handed form of krsna are eternal and transcendental, whereas the universal form exhibited to Arjuna is temporary. The very word sudurdarsam, meaning “difficult to see,” suggests that no one had seen that universal form. It also suggests that amongst the devotees there was no necessity of showing it. That form was exhibited by krsna at the request of Arjuna so that in the future, when one represents himself as an incarnation of God, people can ask to see his universal form. The word na, used repeatedly in the previous verse, indicates that one should not be very much proud of such credentials as an academic education in Vedic literature. One must take to the devotional service of Krsna. Only then can one attempt to write commentaries on Bhagavad-gita. Krsna changes from the universal form to the four-handed form of Näräyana and then to His own natural form of two hands. This indicates that the four-handed forms and other forms mentioned in Vedic literature are all emanations of the original two-handed Krsna. He is the origin of all emanations.krsna is distinct even from these forms, what to speak of the impersonal conception. As far as the four-handed forms of krsna are concerned, it is stated clearly that even the most identical four-handed form of Krsna is also an expansion of the Supreme Lord.