Aim

To understand how the Supreme Lord directs material nature while remaining detached from material activities.

Purport

It is clearly stated here that the Supreme Lord, although aloof from all the activities of the material world, remains the supreme director. The Supreme Lord is the supreme will and the background of this material manifestation, but the management is being conducted by material nature. Kṛṣṇa also states in Bhagavad-gītā that of all the living entities in different forms and species, “I am the father.” The father gives seeds to the womb of the mother for the child, and similarly the Supreme Lord by His mere glance injects all the living entities into the womb of material nature, and they come out in their different forms and species, according to their last desires and activities. All these living entities, although born under the glance of the Supreme Lord, take their different bodies according to their past deeds and desires. So the Lord is not directly attached to this material creation. He simply glances over material nature; material nature is thus activated, and everything is created immediately. Because He glances over material nature, there is undoubtedly activity on the part of the Supreme Lord, but He has nothing to do with the manifestation of the material world directly. This example is given in the smṛti: when there is a fragrant flower before someone, the fragrance is touched by the smelling power of the person, yet the smelling and the flower are detached from one another. There is a similar connection between the material world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; actually He has nothing to do with this material world, but He creates by His glance and ordains. In summary, material nature, without the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot do anything. Yet the Supreme Personality is detached from all material activities.

Objectives

1. To understand that the Lord is aloof yet the supreme director of material nature.
2. To learn that material nature conducts management under the Lord’s supervision.
3. To recognize Kṛṣṇa as the father of all living entities.
4. To explain how the Lord injects living beings into material nature through His glance.
5. To grasp that living entities receive bodies according to past deeds and desires.
6. To see that the Lord has no direct attachment to material creation.
7. To comprehend the analogy of fragrance and the flower in explaining detachment.
8. To realize that material nature cannot function without the Lord’s superintendence.

Key points / Takeaway

• The Lord is aloof yet remains the supreme director.
• Material nature works under His supervision.
• Kṛṣṇa is the father of all living entities.
• Creation begins with His glance over nature.
• Living beings receive bodies due to past deeds and desires.
• The Lord has no direct attachment to material creation.
• The flower-fragrance analogy explains His detached connection.
• Material nature cannot act independently of the Lord.