Question: In London, on July 19, 1976, Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture in which he said “It is not possible to understand Krishna. He is so great, unlimited. How can we understand Krishna? Krishna cannot understand Himself.” How is this possible? Why can’t Krishna understand Himself?
Answer by Romapada Swami :
Krishna’s glories are not only unlimited, but ever-expanding as well. It is the nature of anything spiritual that it always increases, it is not finite. Krishna’s knowledge is certainly unlimited – He is Omniscient – but His qualities and glories are also ever-expanding. Thus, as Krishna becomes aware of the limits of His own greatness, His glories have already expanded further!!! anandambudhi-vardhanam. Krishna’s happiness is ever-increasing, His beauty is ever-increasing, His compassion is ever-increasing, His loving reciprocations with His countless devotees are ever-increasing and, of course, His knowledge is ever-increasing as well…
If one tries to understand this using one’s limited mind and material logic, one is sure to be defeated, because the material mind cannot conceive of something that increases infinitely. Matter is static, but Spirit is dynamic.
But we can experience the truth of this statement if we situate ourselves on the spiritual platform by dint of entering into a loving relationship with Krishna through unalloyed devotional service.
It is described in Caitanya-caritamrita that when the cowherd girls see Krishna, their beauty and their happiness increases a thousand-fold. When Krishna sees their increased happiness, His happiness and sweetness multiplies a thousand-fold. Seeing Krishna’s joy, their own happiness further increases a million-fold. In this way a competition takes place between them in which no one acknowledges defeat. (Cc. Adi 4.185-193)
Krishna Himself becomes astonished by the love of these devotees. It makes Him wonder what is it in Him that attracts them so and gives such intense happiness to them. In order to *understand* this and experience the sweetness of such devotion, He appears as Lord Caitanya, assuming the mood of a devotee, specifically the mood of Srimati Radharani.
In other words, because Krishna cannot understand Himself, He assumes the form of Lord Caitanya and thus He understands Himself!
