A Study of BG 10.20

(written on October 11, 2019)

1. What does “darkness of ignorance” mean?

Here, Srila Prabhupada is comparing ignorance to darkness. He says, “For those who are sleeping in the darkness of ignorance, it is not possible to understand how the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests Himself in various ways in the material and spiritual worlds.” He is comparing ignorance to darkness because when one is in ignorance, they do not have eyes to see and understand. One example of this is Dritharashtra. Dritharashtra was blind both materially, but also spiritually. Srila Prabhupada says in his purport of BG 1.2, “Dhritarashtra was blind from birth. Unfortunately, he was also bereft of spiritual vision.” So when one is ignorant, like so, they are not on the correct platform to be able to understand about the Supreme Personality of Godhead nonetheless their own actions. Srila Prabhupada explains this in his purport of BG 14.8 that, “Everyone… Of the mode of ignorance becomes mad, and a mad man cannot understand what is what.” This is why ignorance is compared to darkness.

2. What does “Krishna is the soul of the entire cosmic manifestation by dint of his primary expansion” mean?

Krishna’s primary expansion is Lord Balarama. So this statement by Srila Prabhupada says that Krishna is the soul of the cosmic manifestation through means of Lord Balarama. Krishna first expanded into Lord Balarama who then expanded into the first quadruple expansion: Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva. From this quadruple expansion comes Narayana and from Narayana comes a second quadruple form and from Maha Sankarshana comes Ksirodakasayi Vishnu, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and Maha Vishnu. So, all the creation and maintenance is carried out by Lord Balarama. Krishna himself is not involved in the creation of the cosmic manifestation. (Prabhupada lecture on CC A 1.7).

Krishna (origin)

• Balarama

  • Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva

    • Narayana

      • Maha Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva

        • Maha Vishnu, Garbodakasayi Vishnu, Ksirodakasayi Vishnu

3. What is the difference between primary and plenary expansions? Explain the purusha avatar. What is the difference between pradhan and mahatattva?

Primary expansion is Lord Balarama. Lord Balarama is the exact same as Lord Krishna in their bodily forms except that they have different bodily hues. The plenary expansions, on the other hand are all the avatars of Lord Krishna (like Ramachandra, Kurma, Vamana, etc.) and the expansions of Lord Balarama (like the quadruple forms).

4. Explain the purusha avatars.

The purusha avatars are Maha Vishnu, Ksirodakasayi Vishnu, and Garbodakasayi Vishnu who live in the Causal Ocean in different levels of the material creation. From Maha Vishnu’s pores, the universes are created. From Maha Vishnu, the manifestations of the universes begin. “Purusha” means Supreme Personality. Within each universe lies Garbodakasayi Vishnu, and within each and every atom lies Ksirodakasayi Vishnu. The purusha avatars are in charge of the Maha tattva and of the material forms of the jivas. (SB 2.4.23).

5. What is the difference between pradhan and maha tattva.

Pradhana is the inanimate or unmanifested material nature. Through the glance of Maha Vishnu, the pradhana becomes impregnated by the Lord’s energy and turns into maha tattva. Maha tattva is the manifested form of the material nature.