But there is another, the Supreme Person, called the Paramatma (Supreme Self), the imperishable Lord who pervades and sustains the three worlds.
Synthesis
But there is another, the Supreme Person (Purushottama), the imperishable Lord who enters the three worlds and sustains them. Shankara identifies Purushottama with the supreme Brahman beyond all dualities. Ramanuja sees this as the Lord who is distinct from and superior to both matter and souls. The Bhakti tradition worships Purushottama as Krishna — the personal God who transcends and sustains all. Madhva explains that Purushottama is utterly distinct from both the perishable and imperishable — the definitive statement of God's absolute supremacy. Abhinavagupta reads Purushottama as Paramashiva — the absolute consciousness that includes and transcends both dynamic and static aspects. Vallabha identifies Purushottama as Krishna Himself, the Supreme Person who encompasses but exceeds both categories. Tilak sees this as establishing the supreme reference point for all action — ultimate loyalty belongs to the Supreme Person. Vivekananda interprets Purushottama as the highest conception of reality, harmonizing personal and impersonal conceptions of God.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara interprets the Uttama Purusha as Nirguna Brahman — the absolute reality that transcends all distinctions including kshara and akshara. Being called 'Paramatma' here means the supreme Self that is the true identity of all beings. The three worlds are pervaded and sustained by this one reality, which appears as many due to upadhis (limiting adjuncts).
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
Beyond your changing moods and your unchanging awareness, there may be a deeper intelligence at work in your life — a sustaining presence that you didn't create and can't fully comprehend. Openness to this 'something beyond' is the beginning of genuine spiritual life.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"Is there a deeper intelligence guiding my life beyond what I can see?"
- ?"What is the 'something more' that I sense but can't name?"
- ?"How do I open myself to a reality beyond my current understanding?"
- ?"What sustains my existence that I didn't create?"