(Lord Sri Krsna said to His devotee, Uddhava:) 'You should know the bona fide spiritual master as My very Self. Na martya buddhyasuyeta, sarva deva-mayo guruh In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the guru is described by the Lord as His own direct manifestation.Īcaryam mam vijaniyan, navamanyeta karhicit In this way, mattah sarvam pravartate - 'I am the first to reveal to the public, 'Worship Me in this way.' I appear as guru, and through him, I worship Myself.' But He reveals Himself personally to the soul who, having become eager to engage in His devotional service, prays to Him for His mercy.' (Kathopanisad 1.2.23) 'The Lord cannot be known by copious logic, intelligence, or deep study of the scriptures. Mattah sarvam pravartate - 'Every attempt and movement begins from Me, including the methods by which everyone worships and serves Me in devotion.' I am also the origin of the Master of all potencies, who commands the respect of everyone - Lord Narayana of Vaikuntha.' I am the origin of not only Brahman, the all-comprehensive aspect, and Paramatma, the all-permeating aspect. Therefore, by the word sarvasya, Lord Krsna indicates, 'I am svayam Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord Himself. As Lord Krsna, He attracts the love of everyone. No one can resist feeling moved to worship and adore His charming personality. His nature is such that whoever comes into contact with Him cannot resist serving Him. However, Srila Jiva Goswami has given a special and particularly fine interpretation: Bhagavan means bhajaniya guna-visista.

The characteristic of Bhagavan, as Lord Narayana, is that all kinds of potencies are personally controlled by Him. Jnana-vairagyayos' caiva, sannam bhaga itinganaīhagavan, the Supreme Lord, is thus defined as 'He who is inseparatly replete with the six inconceivable qualities of wealth, power, fame, beauty, knowledge, and renunciation.' (Visnu Purana 6.5.47) The general definition of the word Bhagavan is given,Īisvaryasya samagrasya, viryasya yasasah sriyah Paramatma is the all-permeating aspect of the Absolute, and Bhagavan is the personal conception of the Absolute. Brahman is the all-comprehensive aspect of the Absolute.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.11), the three main conceptions, of the Absolute are given as Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. The ontological substance of the book is contained within these four essential verses, beginning aham sarvasya prabhavo - 'Everything emanates from Me.' Verses 8 - 11 are the four principal verses of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita. Realizing this hidden treasure, the virtuous souls who are blessed with fine theistic intellect surpass the standards of duty and nonduty, and embrace the paramount path of love divine, raga-marga, and adore Me forever. The universe of mundane and divine flow, every attempt and movement, the Vedas and allied scriptures which guide everyone's worship - all are initiated by Me alone. I am the root cause of the all-comprehensive aspect of the Absolute, the all-permeating aspect of the Absolute, and also the personal aspect of the Absolute - the Master of all potencies, who commands the respect of everyone - Lord Narayana of Vaikuntha. sarvam - All attempts in the universe of matter and spirit, and the Vedas and allied scriptures with their functions pravartate - begin mattah - Realizing iti - this mystery budhah - persons blessed with fine theistic intellect bhava-samanvitah - endowed with their internal devotional nature of servitude, friendship, parenthood, or consorthood bhajante - devote themselves mam - unto Me. Iti matva bhajante mam, budha bhava-samanvitahĪham prabhavah - I am the Supreme Absolute Truth, svayam Bhagavan or the original Supreme Lord, the cause sarvasya - of all causes, including Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan, i.e., the all-comprehensive aspect of the Absolute, the all-permeating aspect of the Absolute, and the personal aspect of the Absolute, which is endowed with all the qualities that attract everyone to serve Him. Aham sarvasya prabhavo, mattah sarvam pravartate

Srimad bhagavad gita shloka