Section 57
Kåñëa is Çabda Brahman

          Therefore the Brahman, which is described by the Vedas, is nothing but the body of the Lord. Maitreya makes this statement which is suitable as a concluding statement (3.21.8):         

          "O Vidura, then, in Satya-yuga, the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, being pleased, showed Himself to Kardama Muni and displayed His transcendental form, which is Brahman, and explained by the transcendental sound of the Vedas." 

          Dadhat means while manifesting the meaning is that the form called Çukla, which the Lord manifests in Kåta-yuga, that very form, which is Brahman, the Absolute Truth revealed by Vedic sound, was shown to Kardama Muni.

 

PURPORT 

          After explaining that Lord Kåñëa's body is supremely transcendental and the topmost object of love, Çréla Jéva Gosvämé explains that the Brahman described in the Vedas is the body of Lord Kåñëa.  To support his conclusion he quotes Maitreya Åñé's answer to Vidura's question regarding the lineage of Sväymbhuva Manu and specifically about Kardama and Devahüti, the daughter of Manu.

          Maitreya Åñé says that Brahmä ordered Kardama Muné to create progeny and thus he performed penance for 10,000 years on the bank of Sarasvaté River.  The Lord was pleased and showed Himself to Kardama as described in the verse under discussion.  The verse explains that the Supreme Lord has a form, which is the personification of çabda brahman.

          There are various types of pramaëas, or means of acquiring knowledge. These were outlined in the commentary on Section Nine in Tattva Sandarbha.  Therein it is explained that the Lord's form can be understood only through çabda pramäëa, or revealed sound.  Thus the Lord's body is called çabdam brahma.  Lord's body is self-luminous which means that it reveals itself and cannot be perceived by material senses. And because çabda reveals the form of the Lord Çabda or Çabda Brahman is nondifferent from the Lord.  This was confirmed by the Lord Himself to King Citraketu (S.B. 6.16.51):

          "Çabda Brahma and Paraà Brahma are my two eternal bodies."

          Also, the Maiträyaëi Upaniñad states (6.22):

          "The Absolute Truth is to be understood as çabda brahman and param brahman.  After comprehending çabda brahman, one attains param brahman, or the Supreme Lord."

          Because the Lord is understood through çabda brahman, He is çabda brahman.  In Text 46 it was explained that Lord is non-different from His name. Therefore it is possible to realize Him by chanting His names. In the beginning part of this it was shown that Brahman and Bhagavän are one. The same Absolute Reality appears differently to the different types of worshipers. Therefore Brahman described in the Vedas is also the Lord who is non-different from His body.

          Lord Çukla, mentioned in this Text, is the yuga avatara for Satya-yuga.  He is described in Çrémad Bhägavatam 11.5.21.  Kardama Muni revealed this to Sväymbhuva Manu in the third canto.  He said, sukla proktän, "This was told to me by Lord Çukla."