Question: Referring to the following from SB.3.32.8, in one statement it is said “All the plenary portions are as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
And in another statement, it says “If they are worshipers of the plenary portion Garbhodakaśāyī Visnu, they remain within this universe until its dissolution, and after that they enter.”
Could you please comment for the better understanding?
Reference: https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/32/8/
The words parasya para-cintakaḥ mean “always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,” or being always Krsna conscious. When we speak of Krsna, this refers to the complete category of visnu-tattva. Krsna includes the three purusa incarnations, namely Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu, as well as all the incarnations taken together.
He exists with all His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions, and each of them is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The words parasya para-cintakah mean those who are fully Krsna conscious. Such persons enter directly into the kingdom of God, the Vaikuntha planets, or, if they are worshipers of the plenary portion Garbhodakasayi Visnu, they remain within this universe until its dissolution, and after that they enter.
Answer by Romapada Swami: The following is a direct quote from a SB purport.
“All the incarnations of the Lord, including the Lord Himself, descend to the different planets of the material world as also in different species of life to fulfill particular missions. Sometimes He comes Himself, and sometimes His different plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions, or His differentiated portions directly or indirectly empowered by Him, descend to this material world to execute certain specific functions. Originally the Lord is full of all opulence, all prowess, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge and all renunciation. When they are partly manifested through the plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions, it should be noted that certain manifestations of His different powers are required for those particular functions. When in the room small electric bulbs are displayed, it does not mean that the electric powerhouse is limited by the small bulbs. The same powerhouse can supply power to operate large-scale industrial dynamos with greater volts. Similarly, the incarnations of the Lord display limited powers because so much power is needed at that particular time.” (SB Purport 1.3.28)
From the above purport by Srila Prabhupada we understand that the different incarnations and expansions of Krsna, have a particular purpose to fulfill and may not require the all the power and opulence of Krsna and therefore not all of the power, opulence, etc. is displayed by such incarnations. One should not mistakenly consider Them to be different from Krsna, even though the fullness of Bhagavan Sri Krsna are not being manifest by them. With that understanding in mind, one should read the following as quoted in your question:
“He exists with all His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions, and each of them is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Regarding the second sentence cited from SB.3.32.8 “If they are worshipers of the plenary portion Garbhodakasayi Visnu, they remain within this universe until its dissolution, and after that they enter” – the form of Garbhodakasayi Visnu is found only within the creation, during the period of cosmic manifestation. After cosmic annihilation, this feature of Visnu is withdrawn, and the jivas attached to Him then go to the spiritual realm.
Krishna responds to all the devotees equally, according to their different mood of love for Him. Krishna reveals Himself to the living entities in the way they want to see Him and thus the living entity attains to the planet where the Lord is in that form that one is attached to.
Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport to this verse that “persons who are worshipers of Hiraṇyagarbha, the plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Garbhodakasayi Visnu, do not directly approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vaikuntha. They remain within this universe on Satyaloka or other higher planets until the end of the life of Brahma. Then, with Brahma, they are elevated to the spiritual kingdom. “
When Krishna the original Personality of Godhead, wishes to create the material world, He expands Himself into three Vishnu forms to do so. 1) Maha-Vishnu creates innumerable universes, 2) Garbhodakasayi Vishnu enters each universe and creates all the planetary systems, and 3) Ksirodakashayi Vishnu enters the hearts of all beings, as well as into each atom of the universe.
The Lord is situated in this universe as Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and within every living entity and every atom as Ksirodakasayi Vishnu. Garbhodakasayi Visnu is the Lord of the universe, which manifests in course of time, and in time is withdrawn. The Garbhodakasayi Vishnu form of Krsna is not always manifest, yet at the same time is eternal. Since Garbhodakasayi Vishnu enters each universe and though Brahma He creates all the planetary systems, the worshippers also remain in this universe until dissolution and then they are promoted to the spiritual world.
One should carefully note that the Lord, in all three of His Visnu forms, exists eternally and is not touched by the dissolution nor by time factor.
