Now, these Viṣṇu, Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, although He is in this material world . . . there is a planet—I have already explained to you—it is called Kṣīrodaka planet, or where the oceans are of milk ocean. So in that planet Lord Viṣṇu is there, within. But He is not within this material world. Just like even a devotee who is always engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is not in this material world, how Viṣṇu, the Supreme, He can be in the material world? He is not in the material world.
Just like outside there may be snow falling, but inside, if you are protected by heating system and other thing, you are not affected. The whole city may be overwhelmed by snow falling, but if you are protected by certain means and adjustment, then you are not affected. Similarly, Viṣṇu and viṣṇu-bhakta, they are not affected by this material nature. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam (BG 9.11).
Therefore foolish creatures, when they see Kṛṣṇa is here, they think that "Kṛṣṇa is like one of us." But He is not. So here it is stated, pālanārtha svāṁśa viṣṇu-rūpe avatāra. He is providing. Bhūta-bhṛt. Kṛṣṇa's name or Viṣṇu's another name is Bhūta-bhṛt. He is providing our necessities. Always know that. This is also another knowledge. Don't think that you are producing your foodstuff, you are producing your necessities. No. You cannot do anything. He is providing. God is giving you. God is giving you. So you should always remember that pālanārtha. Eko bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13).
Eko, that one supreme eternal, He is providing all the necessities of so many, innumerable living entities. Don't you see? We are mad after economic development from morning to late at night. In our cars, in our trucks we are going hither and thither. But there are many, many millions of living creatures; they have no economic problem. Who is providing them? Who is providing them? Providing, Kṛṣṇa is providing them. Viṣṇu is providing them.
- pālanārtha svāṁśa viṣṇu-rūpe avatāra
- sattva-guṇa draṣṭā tāte māyā-guṇa-pāra
- (CC Madhya 20.314)
He is, although in this material world, He is transcendentally situated. He has nothing to do with this material world. Svarūpa—aiśvarya-pūrṇa, kṛṣṇa-sama prāya (CC Madhya 20.315).
Kṛṣṇa-sama prāya. Now, I have already told you, prāya means He is almost like Kṛṣṇa. Because Kṛṣṇa is cent percent, he is ninety-four percent. Therefore it is said, kṛṣṇa-sama prāya. All these Viṣṇu-mūrti, They are kṛṣṇa-sama prāya, or almost like Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa aṁśī. The difference is that Kṛṣṇa is the original teṅho aṁśa and this Viṣṇu is plenary expansion. This is the difference between Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa.
How it is? Somebody may say, "Oh, Lord Caitanya is devotee of Kṛṣṇa, and you are all devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore you are saying that Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead." No. In the Bhagavad-gītā you will find, Kṛṣṇa Himself says, mattaḥ parataraṁ asti . . . nānyat asti kiñcid (BG 7.7): "There is no more supreme than Me." "All right, He may say personally. He may advertise Himself." But there are many instances in the Vedic literature. Just like in the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said:
- dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya
- dīpāyate vivṛta-hetu-samāna-dharmā
- yas tādṛg eva hi ca viṣṇutayā vibhāti
- govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
- (CC Madhya 20.316)
"Govinda, Kṛṣṇa, He is the original, and from Him all other Viṣṇu expansions are emanated." How it is that? Just like this is a lamp, original. Now you can, I mean to say, ignite another lamp, another lamp, another lamp, another lamp, another lamp. Now, all these lamps, they are equally powerful so far the luminous quality is concerned, but you have to accept, "This is original lamp." Similarly, all these Viṣṇu expansions, they are almost like Kṛṣṇa; a little difference, but . . . Kṛṣṇa, what is that difference? That also we can note. When Kṛṣṇa was here, He was completely . . . He manifested Himself as completely free from any rules and regulation. Any rules and regulation. But other incarnation, when They come, They follow the rules and regulation.