176. From Friend to Paramatma
D ifferent belief systems describe Paramatma with different names and in different ways. Depending on our belief system, the appearance of Paramatma differs and if He appears before us in a different form, it would be impossible to recognize Him. Similarly, Arjuna was treating Krishna like a friend for decades. He couldn’t recognise that Krishna is Paramatma till he saw His Vishwaroop . He profoundly apologises and says that “Thinking of You as my friend, I presumptuously addressed You as, ‘O Krishna’, ‘O Yadav’, ‘O my dear Friend’. I was ignorant of Your Majesty, showing negligence and undue affection. And if, jestfully, I treated you with disrespect or insulted you, while playing, resting, sitting, eating, when alone, or before others - for all that I crave forgiveness” (11.41-11.42). Like Arjuna, the same would happen to any of us when we reach that eternal state of surrender. We would realise that everyone around us is a part of Paramatma . In other words, every ...