avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ manyante mām abuddhayaḥ
paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mamāvyayam anuttamam
avyaktam — formless;
vyaktim — possessing a personality;
āpannam — to have assumed;
manyante — think;
mām — me;
abuddhayaḥ — less intelligent;
param — Supreme;
bhāvam — nature;
ajānantaḥ — not understanding;
mama — my;
avyayam — imperishable;
anuttamam — excellent
In this verse, Lord Krishna is explaining a key idea about how some people perceive Him. He refers to these people as ‘unintelligent’ because they don’t fully understand His true nature. They see Krishna in just his physical form—the way he appears to them—and think that’s all there is to Him.
To make sense of this, let's break it down. When we talk about someone, we might be thinking about their physical appearance or personality traits—things we can see or experience directly. However, just because we see Krishna as a person, it doesn’t mean that’s his complete essence.
Lord Krishna is trying to point out that His true nature is much deeper and more expansive than what meets the eye. He is saying that there are levels of understanding. While he presents Himself as a person so we can relate to Him and connect with Him, in reality, He exists in a form that is not limited by time or space. This higher nature is described as 'changeless and supreme,' meaning it doesn’t change and is the ultimate truth beyond what we can easily see or understand.
Krishna is specifically addressing those who worship demigods or follow the idea that God doesn’t have a personal form. Instead, they're viewing Him as simply an abstract concept, which limits their understanding of His power and presence.
For example, you might think of a teacher. A teacher has a visible role in the classroom, but their wisdom and knowledge also extend beyond just that role. Similarly, while Krishna shows His divine form, He also transcends it and represents a much greater reality.
The mention of great devotees like Vyasadeva and Narada serves to illustrate that there are wise figures who recognize Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, meaning they see Him as the highest aspect of divinity. However, those who are not truly devoted and are only wrapped up in their own thoughts and desires find it hard to see this larger picture. They might be well-read in scriptures but still miss the essence of who Krishna truly is. This lack of understanding may lead them to misguided beliefs about God as a formless entity, instead of recognizing His divine personality.
In practical terms, if we think about faith or spirituality, it requires deeper insights and devotion. Just going through the motions without truly trying to understand or connect with the divine may lead someone to have a limited perspective. Therefore, what Krishna is emphasizing is the need for sincere inquiry and devotion to truly understand Him and experience His presence in our lives.