Sūtra 3.2.27

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Sūtra 3.2.27:

अतो ‘नन्तेन तथा हि लिङ्गम्

ato ‘nantena tathā hi liṅgam

ataḥ – therefore; anantena – by the infinite; tathā – so; hi – indeed; liṅgam – evidence.

“It is so by the infinite. There is evidence.” (27)

Sūtra pagination:
Adhyāya 3:
  Devotional Service;
Pāda 2:
  Glories and Virtues of the Lord;
Adhikaraṇa 13:
  The Supreme Personality of Godhead Can Be Seen.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa’s commentary (Govinda-bhāṣya)

There is evidence to support both ideas: that the Supreme Lord is present within everything, and that the Supreme Lord becomes visible to they who meditate on Him. The unlimited Supreme Lord, pleased by His devotees’ worship of Him, shows His own form to them. He does this by His inconceivable mercy. That should be accepted. How is this known? The sūtra explains, liṅgam: “There is evidence.”

In the Atharva Veda it is said:

विज्ञान-घनानन्द-घन-सच्-चिद्-आनन्दैक-रसो भक्ति-योगे तिष्ठति

vijñāna-ghanānanda-ghana-sac-cid-ānandaika-raso bhakti-yoge tiṣṭhati

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose sweet form is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge, becomes visible when He is worshiped with devotion.”

This means that by His mercy the Lord appears before they who worship Him with devotion.

In the Nārāyaṇādhyātma it is said:

नित्याव्यक्तो ‘पि भगवान्
ईक्षते निज-शक्तितः
ताम् ऋते परमात्ंअनं
कः पश्येताम् इतं प्रभुम्

nityāvyakto ‘pi bhagavān
īkṣate nija-śaktitaḥ
tām ṛte paramātṃanaṃ
kaḥ paśyetām itaṃ prabhum

“Although He is always invisible, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes visible by His own power. Without first obtaining His mercy, who can see Him?”

This means that the Lord becomes visible by His own wish.

The Supreme Lord Himself declares [Bhagavad-gītā 7.24]:

अव्यक्तं व्यक्तिम् आपन्नं
मन्यन्ते माम् अबुद्धयः
परं भावम् अजानन्तो
ममाव्ययम् अनुत्तमम्

avyaktaṃ vyaktim āpannaṃ
manyante mām abuddhayaḥ
paraṃ bhāvam ajānanto
mamāvyayam anuttamam

“Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.”

Because the Lord becomes visible in response to His devotees’ love, that does not mean that He is not also all- pervading, present within everything. He does both these actions by the power of His own internal potency. However, to they who do not love Him, He presents only a reflection or a shadow of Himself.

The Lord Himself affirms [Bhagavad-gītā 7.25]:

नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य
योगमाया-समावृतः

nāhaṃ prakāśaḥ sarvasya
yogamāyā-samāvṛtaḥ

“I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency.”

Therefore, even though He is full of transcendental bliss and other auspicious qualities, He appears terrible and ferocious to they who have no love for Him. Therefore to they who do not love Him He remains invisible.