etau hi viśvasya ca bīja-yonī
rāmo mukundaḥ puruṣaḥ pradhānam
anvīya bhūteṣu vilakṣaṇasya
jñānasya ceśāta imau purāṇau
etau -- these two; hi -- indeed; visvasya -- of the universe; ca -- and; bija -- the seed; yoni -- and the womb; ramah -- Lord Balarama; mukundah -- Lord Krishna; purushah -- the creating Lord; pradhanam -- His creative energy; anviya -- entering; bhuteshu -- within all living beings; vilakshanasya -- confused or perceiving; jnanasya -- knowledge; ca -- and; isate -- control; imau -- They; puranau -- primeval.
These two Lords, Mukunda and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the creator and His creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval Supreme.
The word vilakshana means either "distinctly perceiving" or "confused," depending on how the prefix vi- is understood in context. In the case of enlightened souls, vilakshana means "perceiving the correct distinction between the body and the soul" and thus Lord Krishna, as indicated by the word isate, guides the spiritually advancing soul. The other meaning of vilakshana -- "confused" or "bewildered" -- clearly applies to those who have not understood the difference between the soul and the body, or the distinction between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. Such bewildered living beings do not go back home, back to Godhead, to the eternal spiritual world, but rather achieve temporary destinations according to the laws of nature.
It is understood from all Vaishnava literature that Sri Rama, Balarama, here accompanying Lord Krishna, is nondifferent from Him, being His plenary expansion. The Lord is one, yet He expands Himself, and thus Lord Balarama in no way compromises the principle of monotheism.
