TEXT 173
anye ca samskrtatmano
vidhinabhihitena te
yajanti tvan-mayas tvam vai
bahu-murtyeka-murtikam
SYNONYMS
anyedifferent persons; caalso; samskrta-atmanahpersons who are purified; vidhinaby the regulative principles; abhihitenastated in the revealed scriptures; tesuch persons; yajantiworship; tvat-mayahbeing absorbed in You; tvamYou; vaicertainly; bahu-murtihaving many forms; eka-murtikamalthough one.
TRANSLATION
" 'In different Vedic scriptures, there are prescribed rules and regulative principles for worshiping different types of forms. When one is purified by these rules and regulations, he worships You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although manifest in many forms, You are one.'
PURPORT
This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.40.7). In the Vedas it is stated that the one becomes many (eko bahu syam). The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself in various forms-visnu-tattva, jiva-tattva and sakti-tattva.
According to the Vedic literatures, there are different regulative principles for the worship of each of these forms. If one takes advantage of the Vedic literatures and purifies himself by following the rules and regulations, ultimately he worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (4.11): mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah. Worship of the demigods is in a sense worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but such worship is said to be avidhi-purvakam, improper. Actually demigod worship is meant for unintelligent men. One who is intelligent considers the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. One who worships demigods worships the Supreme Lord indirectly, but according to the revealed scriptures, there is no need to worship Him indirectly. One can worship Him directly.

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