Q: I have this following question on Iso Mantra 5
tad ejati tan naijati
tad dure tad v antike
tad antar asya sarvasyaIn
tad u sarvasyasya bahyata?
What is the meaning of “The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk”
Answer by Romapada Swami:
In Mantra 5 of Sri Isopanisad it is mentioned that the Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. This mantra describes the inconceivable potencies of the Lord which render Him unknowable to those whom He does not favor. With our limited material senses we cannot perceive how the Lord can do the apparent contradictory two things simultaneously.
Srila Prabhupada explains it very nicely the statement “The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk” in his lecture on Mantra 5 – Los Angeles, May 7, 1970 as follows:
“The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but he is very near as well. He is within everything and again He is outside of everything.” This is the process of understanding Krsna consciousness. He walks and does not walk. Just like crude example I give you, that the sun and, at noontime, it is on your head and somebody walking eastern side or western side, he also sees the sun is also walking with him. Long ago, about forty years ago, when I was householder, my second son, he was four years old. He was walking with me, and he said, “Oh, father, why the moon is coming with us?” This is very intelligent. Yes. So similarly, if a material object can walk so swift… You have seen. You are going on aeroplane or train, you’ll see the moon or sun is going with you. So how it is not possible that Krsna cannot walk? Although He’s situated… But you ask your friend, “Where is the sun? Where is the moon?” He’ll say, “Oh, it is on my head.” Similarly, goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutau [Bs. 5.37]. Krsna, although He is in Vrndavana, Goloka Vrndavana, enjoying pastimes with the associates, He is everywhere, according to the position, shape, form, activities. Everywhere. Therefore it is said here that Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He does not go from His abode. He is fully enjoying. But at the same time, everywhere He is. Everywhere walking”.
So this mantra of Sri Isopanisad is to make us understand that the Supreme Lord is transcendental with inconceivable potencies and thus nothing is impossible for the Lord and that both His personal & Impersonal forms are accepted in devotional service. It is more accommodating than the mayavadi philosophy.
