Prabhupada > Books > Srimad-Bhagavatam > Canto 1:"Creation" > SB 1.2 > SB 1.2.31
 
TEXT 31
taya vilasitesv esu
gunesu gunavan iva
antah-pravista abhati
vijnanena vijrmbhitah
SYNONYMS
tayaby them; vilasitesualthough in the function; esuthese; gunesuthe modes of material nature; gunavanaffected by the modes; ivaas if; antahwithin; pravistahentered into; abhatiappears to be; vijnanenaby transcendental consciousness; vijrmbhitahfully enlightened.
TRANSLATION
After creating the material substance, the Lord [Vasudeva] expands Himself and enters into it. And although He is within the material modes of nature and appears to be; one of the created beings, He is always fully enlightened in His transcendental position.
PURPORT
The living entities are separated parts and parcels of the Lord, and the conditioned living entities, who are unfit for the spiritual kingdom, are strewn within the material world to enjoy matter to the fullest extent. As Paramatma and eternal friend of the living entities, the Lord, by one of His plenary portions, accompanies the living entities to guide them in their material enjoyment and to become witness to all activities. While the living entities enjoy the material conditions, the Lord maintains His transcendental position without being affected by the material atmosphere. In the Vedic literatures (sruti) it is said that there are two birds in one tree.
dva suparna sayuja sakhaya
samanam vrksam parisasvajate
tayor anyah pippalam svadv atty
anasnann anyo 'bhicakasiti
(Mundaka Upanisad 3.1.1)* One of them is eating the fruit of the tree, while the other is witnessing the actions. The witness is the Lord, and the fruit-eater is the living entity. The fruit-eater (living entity) has forgotten his real identity and is overwhelmed in the fruitive activities of the material conditions, but the Lord (Paramatma) is always full in transcendental knowledge. That is the difference between the Supersoul and the conditioned soul. The conditioned soul, the living entity, is controlled by the laws of nature, while the Paramatma, or the Supersoul, is the controller of the material energy.

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