Sridhara Swami's Commentary
Continuing further Lord Krishna describes how He is the essence of smell as
the pure unadulterated odour which exists as the substratum of the Earth.
It can also be interpreted that since the manifestations of the Supreme
Lord as the substratum of everything has been confirmed and as only the
sweet pure odour of the Earth in all its excellence can only emanate from
Him it is being inculcated in these texts. Lord Krishna is the bright
natural glow found in fire. He is the vital force of vitality which
sustains and all life and animates all beings and He is tapas or
austerities found in the yogis or one perfecting the science of the
individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate
consciouness, the ascetics, the hermits and the celibate monks; by which
they have the capacity to withstand dualities such as heat and cold or
pleasure and pain.