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Shri Datta Swami

 01 Oct 2023

 

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How can space be pervaded by God?

[Shri Ganesh V asked: Padanamskaram Swamiji, What is the meaning of the word vyāptam in the context of the below slokha from Srimad BhagavadGita.

dyāv ā-pṛithivyor idam antaraṁ hi
vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśhaśh cha sarvāḥ
dṛiṣhṭvādbhutaṁ rūpam ugraṁ tavedaṁ
loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman 11.20

English Translation: The space between heaven and earth and all the directions is pervaded by You alone. Seeing Your wondrous and terrible form, I see the three worlds trembling in fear, O Greatest of all beings. Here the word vyāptam is translated to be 'to pervade'. How can space be pervaded by God? At Your divine feet, Ganesh V]

Swami replied:- The context is that Arjuna is seeing the cosmic vision of God Krishna. In this, the energetic body of God Krishna is pervading all over the space existing between the earth and heaven. He did not pervade beyond that so that Arjuna can have the complete vision. The vision given by God is up to these limits only. Beyond heaven and below earth also space exists. Entire space of the creation is not referred here. People think that God pervaded all over the space of creation. This is not a proper concept because God has not literally pervaded all over the space or universe because in such case, He would be existing in bad souls also and becomes responsible for their bad actions. Hence, He is not literally omnipresent, but, He is effectively omnipresent, which means that He is as good as being omnipresent. This effective omnipresence is attained due to His omnipotence. He is also omniscient because He is omnipotent. Hence, you need not say that God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. It is sufficient if you say that God is omnipotent. He pervaded all over the space means that He pervaded all the items present in the space between earth and heaven.

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