वेदान्त पारिजात सौरभ (भगवद् निम्बार्काचार्य - द्वैताद्वैत वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

[SŪ. 1. 2. 31
ADH. 7.] VEDĀNTA-PĀRIJĀTA-SAURABHA 139
5 18 1), it is perfectly justifiable to hold that even one whose 'measure'
or limit, has disappeared 'on all sides' or entirely ¹, i e. even the
Highest Person, who is unlimited, can be of the measure of a span
merely, i.e. of the extent measured by the thumb and the forefinger.
How? "On account of manifestation." That is, with a view to
favouring those who are devoted to none else except to Him, the Lord
manifests Himself in the heart-lotus in a form, which is eternal, blissful
and non-material, which is of the size of a span and is the fulfiller of
the desire of His own devotees, just as He manifested Himself in
the limited space of a pillar as a man-lion.² This is the view of the
teacher Āśmarathya
Or, (an alternative explanation of the sūtra), with a view to
favouring the dull-witted devotees (i.e. who can grasp gross objects
only), the Lord squeezes Himself, as it were, into gross regions only;
though all-pervading, He limits Himself in accordance with their
respective intelligence and manifests Himself in those respective
places. Thus, "on account of manifestation", He can, very well, be
of the measure of merely a span,—so thinks "Āśmarathya",—this
is the sense.
COMPARISON
Rāmānuja and Śrīkaṇṭha
Interpretation of the word 'abhivyakteḥ' different, viz 'on
account of definiteness', i e the texts speaks of the Lord of a definite
extent with a view to rendering the thought of the meditating devotee
more definite.³
SŪTRA 31
"ON ACCOUNT OF REMEMBRANCE, BĀDARI (THINKS SO)."
Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha
The imagination of a body from head to foot is "on account of
remembrance", i.e. for the purpose of recollection (or meditation),—
so thinks the teacher "Bādari".
¹ Abhitaḥ vigataḥ mānaḥ = abhivimānaḥ.
² The reference is to the killing of Hiraṇyakaśipu by the Lord in the form
of a man-lion Vide Mahā 3.15835, etc.
³ Śrī. B 1 2.30, p. 274, Part 1 ŚK. B. 1.2.30, p 392 Part 1