टीका

Commentary

This verse presents one of the most vivid descriptions of the omnipresence of the Supreme Lord in the entire Gita. Just as the sun radiates its light in all directions, the Supreme Personality of Godhead or Supersoul (Paramatma) exists in His all-pervading form, and all living beings from the smallest ant to the greatest demigod reside within Him. His hands, feet, eyes, and ears are infinite and everywhere.

It is important to understand that this does not mean the soul (atma) has hands and feet spreading in all four directions — that is not possible. Rather, one who lacks spiritual knowledge may think so, but when proper understanding dawns, one realizes that the soul is bound within its material body due to contact with material nature (prakriti). The Supersoul, however, is different from the individual soul.

The Supersoul can extend His hand unlimitedly far. The individual soul cannot do this. In the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says that if anyone offers Him a flower, a fruit, or water, He accepts it — and He does so with His own hand. If He were far away, how could He accept these offerings? This is the omnipotence of the Lord. Though He resides in His own abode, far from this earthly planet, He can still extend His hand through anyone’s offering and accept it.

The Brahma Samhita (5.37) confirms this: goloka eva nivasatyakhilatmabhoota — although He eternally resides in His transcendental abode, He is still all-pervading. The individual soul cannot claim this. Therefore, this verse describes the Supersoul — the Supreme Personality of Godhead — not the individual soul.