Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.4.31
यथा हिरण्यं बहुधा समीयते
नृभि: क्रियाभिर्व्यवहारवर्त्मसु ।
एवं वचोभिर्भगवानधोक्षजो
व्याख्यायते लौकिकवैदिकैर्जनै: ॥ ३१ ॥
yathā hiraṇyaṁ bahudhā samīyate
[yathaa hiranyam bahudhaa sameeyate]
nṛbhiḥ kriyābhir vyavahāra-vartmasu
[nribhih kriyaabhir vyavahaara-vartmasu]
evaṁ vacobhir bhagavān adhokṣajo
[evam vachobhir bhagavaan adhokshajo]
vyākhyāyate laukika-vaidikair janaiḥ
[vyaakhyaayate laukika-vaidikair janaih]
Word-for-word
yathā
—
just as
hiraṇyam
—
gold
bahudhā
—
in many forms
samīyate
—
appears
nṛbhiḥ
—
to men
kriyābhiḥ
—
in terms of different functions
vyavahāra-vartmasu
—
in ordinary usage
evam
—
similarly
vacobhiḥ
—
in varying terms
bhagavān
—
the Personality of Godhead
adhokṣajaḥ
—
the transcendental Lord, who is inconceivable to material senses
vyākhyāyate
—
is described
laukika
—
mundane
vaidikaiḥ
—
and Vedic
janaiḥ
—
by men.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yathā hiraṇyaṁ bahudhā samīyate
yathā
just as
hiraṇyam
gold
bahudhā
in many forms
samīyate
appears
nṛbhiḥ kriyābhir vyavahāra-vartmasu
nṛbhiḥ
to men
kriyābhiḥ
in terms of different functions
vyavahāra-vartmasu
in ordinary usage
evaṁ vacobhir bhagavān adhokṣajo
evam
similarly
vacobhiḥ
in varying terms
bhagavān
the Personality of Godhead
adhokṣajaḥ
the transcendental Lord, who is inconceivable to material senses
vyākhyāyate laukika-vaidikair janaiḥ
vyākhyāyate
is described
laukika
mundane
vaidikaiḥ
and Vedic
janaiḥ
by men.
According to their different purposes, men utilize gold in various ways, and gold is therefore perceived in various forms. In the same way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is inaccessible to material senses, is described in various terms, both ordinary and Vedic, by different types of men.
Purport
All those who are not pure devotees of the Supreme Lord are basically trying to exploit the Lord and His energies. According to their strategy of exploitation, they conceive of and describe the Absolute Truth in various ways. In Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the Absolute Truth presents Himself as He actually is for the benefit of sincere people who do not foolishly try to conceptually manipulate the Supreme Godhead.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Just gold is perceived in different forms by various types of manufacturing in the ordinary world, the Supreme Lord, inaccessible to material senses, is described in various words, both ordinary and Vedic, by different types of men.
Though at the time of creation the universe is seen to support various actions, the jñānī should know that there is only one Brahman. By various fabrications, gold appears as earrings or bracelets. By common words and Vedic verses, the Lord is described in many ways.
Personal Guidance
Gold is one, but earrings, bracelets, and rings make it look like many. Likewise the one Supreme Lord is described in countless ways by mundane and Vedic speech. Different angles of vision can all witness the same Truth.
Reflection Questions
- Do I dismiss other devotees' angles, or recognize them as ornaments of one gold?
- How can I let varied descriptions of the Lord deepen rather than divide my devotion?
My note
Source: vedabase.io