Aim

To understand the Lord’s inconceivable opulence (yogam aiśvaram), how everything rests on Him without His direct involvement, and the unique difference between the Lord’s will and the limited capacity of the conditioned soul. 

Purport

The Lord says that everything is resting on Him (mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni). This should not be misunderstood. The Lord is not directly concerned with the maintenance and sustenance of this material manifestation. Sometimes we see a picture of Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders; he seems to be very tired, holding this great earthly planet. Such an image should not be entertained in connection with Kṛṣṇa’s upholding this created universe. He says that although everything is resting on Him, He is aloof. The planetary systems are floating in space, and this space is the energy of the Supreme Lord. But He is different from space. He is differently situated. Therefore the Lord says, “Although they are situated on My inconceivable energy, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead I am aloof from them.” This is the inconceivable opulence of the Lord.

In the Nirukti Vedic dictionary it is said, yujyate ’nena durghaṭeṣu kāryeṣu: “The Supreme Lord is performing inconceivably wonderful pastimes, displaying His energy.” His person is full of different potent energies, and His determination is itself actual fact. In this way the Personality of Godhead is to be understood. We may think of doing something, but there are so many impediments, and sometimes it is not possible to do as we like. But when Kṛṣṇa wants to do something, simply by His willing, everything is performed so perfectly that one cannot imagine how it is being done. The Lord explains this fact: although He is the maintainer and sustainer of the entire material manifestation, He does not touch this material manifestation. Simply by His supreme will, everything is created, everything is sustained, everything is maintained and everything is annihilated. There is no difference between His mind and Himself (as there is a difference between ourselves and our present material mind) because He is absolute spirit. Simultaneously the Lord is present in everything; yet the common man cannot understand how He is also present personally. He is different from this material manifestation, yet everything is resting on Him. This is explained here as yogam aiśvaram, the mystic power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Objectives

1. To clarify the meaning of mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni (everything rests on Kṛṣṇa).
2. To understand that Kṛṣṇa maintains the cosmos without personal labor or burden.
3. To distinguish between Kṛṣṇa’s energy and His personal transcendental position.
4. To recognize the inconceivable opulence (yogam aiśvaram) of the Lord’s energies.
5. To realize the difference between the Lord’s determination and that of the conditioned soul.
6. To understand that the Lord creates, sustains, and annihilates simply by His will.
7. To grasp the Lord’s absolute nature (no difference between Him and His mind).
8. To appreciate the Lord’s simultaneous immanence (present in everything) and transcendence (separate from creation).
9. To learn what the Nirukti dictionary says about the Lord’s activities.

Key Points / Takeaways

Kṛṣṇa is never burdened – unlike Atlas, He effortlessly sustains creation through His energies.

All beings rest on Him – the material cosmos floats within His energy, not outside Him.

He is distinct from His energy – space and material nature are His energies, but He Himself is transcendental.

His opulence is inconceivable – yogam aiśvaram means He does the impossible without effort.

His will is absolute – unlike conditioned souls, Kṛṣṇa’s desire instantly manifests.

He creates, maintains, and annihilates – all through His supreme determination, without personal involvement.

He is absolute spirit – no difference between His mind and person, unlike the duality in us.

Immanence and transcendence – He pervades everything by energy, yet remains aloof in His personal form.

For devotees, this knowledge strengthens faith – seeing Kṛṣṇa as Supreme Person beyond māyā yet intimately present.

For non-devotees, this is inconceivable – they cannot reconcile His transcendence and immanence.

Conclusion: The Lord’s mystic power (yogam aiśvaram) is that He maintains the entire creation effortlessly by His energies, remains personally aloof, and yet pervades everything—proving He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.