2.89
dipa haite yaiche bahu dipera jvalana
mula eka dipa taha kariye ganana
SYNONYMS
dipa—a lamp; haite—from; yaiche—just as; bahu—many; dipera—of lamps; jvalana—lighting; mula—the original; eka—one; dipa—lamp; taha—that; kariye—I make; ganana—consideration
"When from one candle many others are lit, I consider that one the original.
PURPORT
The Brahma-samhita, Chapter Five, verse 46, states that the visnu-tattva, or the principle of the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is like a lamp because the expansions equal their origin in all respects.
A burning lamp can light innumerable other lamps that are not inferior, but still one lamp must be considered the original.
Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself in the plenary forms of the visnu-tattva, but although they are equally powerful, the original powerful Personality of Godhead is considered the source.
This example also explains the appearance of qualitative incarnations like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma-According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, sambhos tu tamo-’dhisthanatvat kajjalamaya-suksma-dipa-sikha-sthaniyasya na tatha samyam: “The sambhu-tattva, or the principle of Lord Siva, is like a lamp covered with carbon because of his being in charge of the mode of ignorance.
The illumination from such a lamp is very minute.