Sri Isopanishad – Mantra 4

Question and Answers

Q.1. Which features of the Lord is mentioned in mantra 4 of Isopanisad?

Ans. The different features mentioned in mantra 4 of Isopanisad are-
(a) The Lord is swifter than the mind although fixed in His abode
(b) The Lord can overcome all in running
(c) Unapproachable even by powerful demigods
(d) Although in one place, He controls every one including those who supply air and rain

Q.2. Why even the great demigods misunderstand Krishna’s position?

Ans.
In Bhagavad-gita it is mentioned that neither the host of demigods nor the great sages can
know the opulence of the Supreme Lord because the Lord is the source of these
demigods and the sages. The demigods and the sages try to know the Lord by mental
speculation, but, because they are limited they become perplexed and misunderstand
Krishna’s position. To know, Krishna, He has to reveal Himself otherwise by speculative
process, instead of knowing Him they will misunderstand Him.

Q.3. Why the mental speculators cannot know the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Ans. The mental speculators cannot know the supreme Personality of Godhead because the
Lord can not be known through mental speculation. He can be known only by His
devotees through His mercy. In the Brahma samhita (5.34) it is stated that even if a non-
devotee philosopher travels through space at the speed of wind or the mind for hundreds
of millions of years, he will still find that the Absolute Truth is far, far away from him.
Thus by mental speculation it is not possible to know God who is transcendental to all
mundane reality. Men are accustomed to reach conclusions according to their capacity
for understanding, but the Supreme Lord is not subject to our limited capacity for
understanding. This is the reasons why the Upanisads warn us that no one can approach
the Lord by his own limited potency. Although the individual parts and parcels of the
Lord’s potencies have all the symptoms of the Lord Himself, they have limited spheres of
activity and are therefore limited and with limited sphere of activity it is quite impossible
to understand the Supreme Lord. This is the reason, why the mental speculators can not
know the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Q.4. Explain about the potencies of the Lord giving the analogy of heat and light?
Ans. The Absolute Truth – Sri Krishna – possesses innumerable energies. In the Visnu Purana
His potencies are compared to the head and light that emanate from a fire. Although
situated in one place, a fire can distribute its light and heat for some distance; similarly,
the Absolute Personality of Godhead, although fixed in His transcendental abode, can
diffuse His different energies everywhere.
 The different energies of the Lord are present everywhere. Although, the Lord and His
energies are non-different, one should not mistake these energies for the Supreme Truth.
Nor should one wrongly consider that the Supreme Lord is distributed every where
impersonally or that He loses His personal existence.

Q.5. What does perfect knowledge means?

Ans. Perfect knowledge means knowing the Lord in all His features, knowing His potencies
and knowing how these potencies work by His will. This matter is described by the Lord
in Bhagavad-gita, the essence of all Upanisads.

1. Demigods are classified under __________ potency of the Lord.

2. What does the word "apnuvan" in the text 4 refer to ?