Page 73 - THE FOURTH DIMENSION

You disguise Yourself by Your own energies while moving among the created beings, as a fire covers its own
light with smoke. (SB 10.70.37)

The sage Narada is emphatic and unequivocal by declaring He has witnessed numerous times the
insurmountable power (maya duratyaya) of Lord Krishna’s illusory energy (maya). All living entities from
Brahma and Siva down to the tiniest microbe are subject to the illusory energy of maya. Her influence on
Brahma and Siva is minimal compared to that of ordinary living entities. Still, Brahma and Siva are not
completely free of maya’s influence. Bhaktivedanta Swami has satated:

The words mām eva are also significant. Mām means unto Kṛṣṇa (Viṣṇu) only, and not Brahmā or Śiva.
Although Brahmā and Śiva are greatly elevated and are almost on the level of Viṣṇu, it is not possible for such
incarnations of rajo-guṇa (passion) and tamo-guṇa (ignorance) to release the conditioned soul from the
clutches of māyā. In other words, both Brahmā and Śiva are also under the influence of māyā. Only Viṣṇu is the
master of māyā; therefore He alone can give release to the conditioned soul. The Vedas (Śvetāśvatara
Upaniṣad 3.8) confirm this in the phrase tam eva viditvā, or “Freedom is possible only by understanding Kṛṣṇa.”
Even Lord Śiva affirms that liberation can be achieved only by the mercy of Viṣṇu. Lord Śiva says, mukti-pradātā
sarveṣāṁ viṣṇur eva na saṁśayaḥ: “There is no doubt that Viṣṇu is the deliverer of liberation for everyone. (Bg
7.14 – purport)

It is stated that by the association of genuine devotees one can gradually be trained in transcendental
knowledge to not be duped by the illusory material energy. The Vedic priests who performed a sacrifice for
Maharaja Nabhi praised the effect of association with pure devotees.

ko vā iha te ’parājito ’parājitayā /māyayānavasita-padavyānāvṛta-matir / viṣaya-viṣa-rayānāvṛta-prakṛtir /
anupāsita-mahac-caraṇaḥ.

Dear Lord, unless one worships the lotus feet of great devotees, one will be conquered by the illusory energy,
and his intelligence will be bewildered. Indeed, who has not been carried away by the waves of material
enjoyment, which are like poison? Your illusory energy is unconquerable. No one can see the path of this
material energy or tell how it is working. (SB 5.4.14)

Prahlad Maharaja confirmed the same truth:

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ / spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam / niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

One cannot become the Lord’s pure devotee without taking the dust of a great devotee on his head (pāda-
rajo-’bhiṣekam). A pure devotee is niṣkiñcana; he has no material desire to enjoy the material world. One has
to take shelter of such a pure devotee in order to attain his qualities. The pure devotee is always free from the
clutches of māyā and her influence. (SB 7.5.32)

By the mercy and instruction of pure devotees, one may overcome the illusory grip of the three modes of
material nature. If one still maintains false pride in such an achievement, it is possible to be corrected by Lord
Krishna who may cause the devotee to be bewildered as he did Brahma and others who doubt His supremacy.
This is His special mercy to correct His devotees from all traces of impurity.

The Lord also puts His pure devotees in spiritual illusion (different than material illusion described above) so
that they can approach Him with intimate love and devotion. This is the case of the inhabitants of Vrindabana
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