Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 7, Verse 7

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

Now that Lord Krishna's absolute position has been established in regard to all creation He is confirming that there is nothing that exists which is superior to Him. In other words there is no independent power or cause apart from Him existing whatsoever in the origin, creation and dissolution of all creation. Lord Krishna energises and totally sustains all creation as well. This is what He is stating by the words mayi sarvam idam protam meaning all the worlds are threaded or pervaded by Him. The metaphor is clear enough.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

Lord Krishna is stating that He alone is the Supreme Being and that there is none other.

Now begins the summation.

Mattah parataram nanyat means there is nothing is superior to Lord Krishna. To consider that there is anything, anywhere in creation independent of Him is foolishness. Because of contact with prakriti or material nature attachment and sorrow arise which enacts a distinct identity for all living entities. Sri or Laksmi Devi is superior to prakriti, being ever free from sorrow. Although Sri associates with prakriti there is no effect from it. Vayu is the demigod in charge of wind. He is madhyana or intermediate and has some independence from prakriti. Lord Krishna is known as the most exalted and since there are no more demigods superior to Him, He is not only exalted but the Supreme Being of all.

Because the jiva or embodied being identifies with prakriti attachment arises and because of attachment then duality is accepted thereby the jiva is considered to be in an inferior position. Therefore everything in material existence which is temporary and subject to change is considered inferior without exception. Even more inferior are those who are inimical to the Supreme Lord. Having no cognisance with even their own consciousness they are ever associated with sorrow and despair. Thus it can be clearly understood that only those who have a relationship with the Supreme Lord have qualified themselves for salvation and no others. Those who have so qualified themselves are always blissful and experiencing happiness internally are the superior ones. But even they are still below Brahma and others according to taratamya or gradation of qualification in bhakti or loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Those who have a relationship with the Supreme Lord attain moksa or liberarion from material existence by this very experience. By such experience supra-sensory illumination manifests in them known as vijnana. The depth and quality of the perception of this illumination and its awareness depends upon taratamya as well. The primary source of illumination is the Supreme Lord Krishna and all others such as Brahma and Shiva are directly empowered and illumined by Him.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

Lord Krishna is revealing the essence of reality by stating mayi sarvam idam meaning everything there is being either chit sentient or achit insentient, everythinthat exists as the aggregate of causes and effects are constituted from Him as He is the original source of all. Absolutely everything depends upon Lord Krishna for their existence and maintenance as the physical body depends upon the atma or soul for its existence. Lord Krishna is Paramatma the Supreme Soul residing in all living entities and thus everything in creation are all infinitesimal parts and parcels of Him in the way that unlimited jewels are held together by means of a string. In the Antaryami Brahmana and other Upanisads the coexistence of prakriti or the material substratum and the Brahman the spiritual substratum pervading all existence is compared to the relationship of the physical body and the atma or soul. To whom material existence and all beings constitute His body and within all beings He is the supreme atma, He is the Divine Lord, one without a second, Lord Krishna. Thus all things exist as part of His body and are ensouled by Him as well. Hence all things are predicative to, and modes of the Supreme Lord, who solely manifested all existence which is completely subsequent to Him. All terms are thus connotations of Him by the rule of samanadhikaranya which expresses the inseparable and invariable relationship of coexistence manifesting between substance and attribute. This can easily be understood by comprehending that any term used to address an attribute of the Supreme Lord is directly connotative to the source from where the attribute originates, being the Supreme Lord. In regards to the communal relationship of substance and attribute referring to the dual indissoluble nature manifesting together, the next four verses further elucidate.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

Now Lord Krishna speaks of His paramount position over everything and His superiority over all. Because He is the origin of the dual nature of prakriti the material substratum, He Himself is factually the substratum of everything existing and the source of the entire creation. There is no independent power or cause for all of creation other than Him. Lord Krishna is the Supreme Lord of all and this is clear everything animate and inanimate in all of creation evolves from Him. The Vedic scriptures proclaim of Lord Krishna thus: There is nothing equal to Him neither is there anything superior to Him. He is the source of all sources. He is the controller of all controllers. He is the Lord of all lords. He is the origin of the creator of creation. He is the Supreme Being above all other beings. The Ruler of the unmanifest and the manifest. By the will of Lord Krishna the entire creation of unlimited movable and immovables has been manifested.

Now Lord Krishna reveals He, Himself is the ultimate substratum of everything. The metaphor given are the words sutre mani-gana iva meaning clusters of gems strung on a thread. The stableness and movement of the gems is depending upon the thread and in the same way the stability and movement of the entire creation comprised of the animate and inanimate is depending upon Lord Krishna who resides as paramatma the Supreme Soul within all sentient beings. This means that their life and activities are dependent solely on Him even though possessing free will. It is stated in the Vedic scriptures that: The Supreme Lord encompasses internally and externally everything that is seen or heard. Also it is stated: Intellect, mind, universal intelligence, wind, fire, earth and the four types of beings: 1) engendered by form 2) viviparous or engendered by egg 3) engendered by sprouting 4) engendered by heat and moisture All these four types of beings have their as source Lord Krishna.