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

[sū. 1. 3. 25.
178 VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA ADH. 6 ]
Even an all-pervasive Being can be of the size of merely a thumb,
"with reference to the heart", i.e. with reference to the heart, or
the heart-lotus which is of the size of merely a thumb, of His own
devotees, devoted to Him alone and to none else. The sense is that
this designation is indeed proper like the designation of the Lord as
'one who makes three strides' (Trivikrama), in reference to the three
worlds.¹
Or else, (an alternative explanation of the word "hṛdyapekṣa-
yā").
As from the word "heart" ("hṛd") alone the size of that which
is within it (viz the Lord) is known, the words "in reference to"
("apekṣayā") are to be understood as: 'in reference to the
worshippers', i.e in accordance with their wish.²
To the objection, viz. As the size of the heart differs in accordance
with the difference of living creatures, the text about (the Person of
the size of merely) a thumb cannot be explained in reference to the
heart,—we reply: "Because men (alone) are entitled" to Scripture.
This is the meaning:³ 'That to which men are entitled' (make
'manuṣyādhikāra'), 'the state of that' (make 'manuṣyādhikāratva'),
on account of that (make 'manuṣyādhikāratvāt'). The meaning of the
scriptural text concerning (the Person of the size of merely) a thumb
is explicable in reference to the heart of men. Although Scripture
is of a universal application,⁴ yet as men alone can be worshippers
and seekers, they alone are entitled to it. Hence, no contradiction
arises here even if the hearts of elephants and lice be not of the size
of merely a thumb, as they are not entitled to works enjoined in Scrip-
ture and Smṛti, as established in the sixth chapter, determining the
conditions of being entitled to sacrifices and so on.⁵ Thus, it is
¹ 'Trivikrama' is an epithet of Viṣṇu, who paced the three worlds in three
steps in His Vāmana or Dwarf incarnation. The sense is, that just as the all-
pervading Lord is said to have three strides only, so He may be said to be of the
size of a thumb only.
² I.e. the Lord manifests Himself as of the size of a thumb to please his
devotees.
³ The compound 'manuṣyādhikāratvāt' is to be explained as follows.
⁴ That is, scriptural mandates are to be followed by all
⁵ Vide Pū. Mī. Sū. 6.1.4-5, pp 504-7, Part 1.