Verse 15.17

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 15.17:

उत्तमः पुरुषस् त्व् अन्यः परमात्मेत्य् उदाहृतः ।
यो लोक-त्रयम् आविश्य बिभर्त्य् अव्यय ईश्वरः ॥ १७ ॥

uttamaḥ puruṣas tv anyaḥ paramātmety udāhṛtaḥ |
yo loka-trayam āviśya bibharty avyaya īśvaraḥ || 17 ||

uttamaḥ–superior; puruṣaḥ–personality; tu–however; anyaḥ–another (who is different from the two previously mentioned); parama-ātmā–the Supersoul; iti–thus; udāhṛtaḥ–described; yaḥ–who; loka-trayam–within the three worlds; āviśya–enters; bibharti–maintains; avyayaḥ–the immutable, without transformation; īśvaraḥ–the controller.

There is, however, yet another infallible person who is even more superior to the previously mentioned kṣara (fallible) and akṣara (infallible). He is known as the Supersoul, the unchanging controller, who enters within the three worlds and sustains them.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Śrī Bhagavān has explained brahma, the wor-shipable reality of the jñānīs. Now, in this verse beginning with uttamaḥ, He explains Paramātmā, the worshipable object of the yogīs. The word tu (but) indicates a characteristic that is distinct from the previously described akṣara-puruṣa (brahma). It was said in the Gītā (6.46) that yogīs are superior to jñānīs: jñānibhyo’pi mato’dhikaḥ karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī. From this statement, it is understood that the Absolute Reality manifests in a superior and specific way according to the advancement and speciality of the worshipper.

Paramātma-tattva is explained as follows: He who is the controller (Īśvara) and He who enters, supports and maintains the three worlds but who is without transformation (avyayaḥ), is Paramātmā.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “The second infallible person is Paramātmā, and He is superior to the first infallible person, brahma. He is Īśvara and He enters the three worlds and becomes situated there as their maintainer.”