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sridatta1 · Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 652 Location: india

Unimaginable God differs from all other imaginable worldly objects

Shreshthamapyajneyam Bhidyate Paramata Eva.

(God and other worldly items are greatest. But the unimaginable God differs from all other imaginable worldly objects. Hence, the word Param meaning different is used before the word Brahman).

A worldly item, greatest in its category is called as Brahman. God also being greater than all these greatest items is really greatest and hence can be called as Brahman. Thus, the ‘greatest’ sense of the word Brahman is common to God and all other greatest worldly items. But, God being unimaginable differs from all the worldly items which are imaginable. Hence, there is the common point and also point of difference between God and other worldly items.

The word Brahman is used to God and other worldly items based on this common point. While accepting the common point, the point of difference is added by the prefix word Param, which means different. Thus, a new word is not created. The word Brahman is maintained. But, for the sake of differentiation, an extra word, Param, is prefixed. The word Param brings focus on the point of difference only and does not contradict the common point of greatest nature or Brahman.