I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the holy, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity.
Endowed with such a faith, he seeks favors of a particular holy man and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone.
Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.
Unintelligent men, who know me not, think that I have assumed this form and personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is changeless and supreme.
I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency [yoga-maya]; and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.
O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows.
O scion of Bharata [Arjuna], O conquerors of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate.
Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.
Intelligent persons who are endeavouring for liberation from old age and death take refuge in Me in devotional service. They are actually Brahman because they entirely know everything about transcendental and fruitive activities.
Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying the holy and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death. | |