यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते ।
सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथात्मा नोपलिप्यते ॥ ३३ ॥
yathā sarva-gataṁ saukṣhmyād ākāśhaṁ nopalipyate
sarvatrāvasthito dehe tathātmā nopalipyate
श्लोक ३३: जिस प्रकार सर्वव्यापी अंतरिक्ष (आकाश) अपनी सूक्ष्मता के कारण किसी भी वस्तु से प्रभावित नहीं होता, उसी प्रकार आत्मा हर जगह होते हुए भी शरीर के गुणों से प्रभावित नहीं होती।
Shloka 33: Like the all-pervading space (akasha), which due to its subtlety is unattached to anything, similarly the Self though existing everywhere, does not become involved with the qualities of the body.
In Bhagavad Gita 13.33, Lord Krishna presents a profound analogy to help Arjuna understand the nature of the soul in relation to the body. The verse states that just as space (or the sky) pervades everything yet remains uncontaminated by what it contains due to its subtle nature, similarly, the soul, though residing within the body, remains untouched by the body's attributes and conditions.
This verse follows Krishna's explanation of Brahman realization, where he describes how one with spiritual vision perceives reality. The analogy of space or sky (ākāśha) is particularly illuminating because space contains everything—mountains, oceans, cities, forests—yet never mixes with or becomes tainted by any of these objects. It maintains its essential nature despite being all-pervading.
Similarly, the soul (ātmā) pervades the entire body with consciousness but remains distinct and separate from it. Though the body undergoes constant changes—growing, aging, experiencing pleasure and pain—the soul itself remains unchanging and unaffected. This is because of the soul's subtle, transcendental nature that is beyond the material elements that constitute the body.
The verse addresses a fundamental question: if the soul resides in the body, why doesn't it become contaminated by the body's material qualities? Krishna explains that this is due to the soul's inherent subtle nature. Just as space cannot be stained by what it contains, the soul cannot be tainted by the body's limitations or experiences.
This teaching offers a profound insight into our true identity. We often identify ourselves with our bodies, minds, emotions, and external circumstances, but Krishna reveals that our essential self—the soul—remains untouched by all these temporary conditions. The soul retains its divine nature despite being situated within a material form. It is this understanding that leads to liberation from false identification with the body.
Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada elaborates on this concept by explaining that just as air enters into water, mud, and other substances without mixing with them, the living entity, though situated in various bodies, remains aloof from them due to its subtle nature. This is why material eyes cannot perceive how the soul connects with the body or how it departs after death.
This verse completes Krishna's explanation of how one with Brahman vision perceives reality. Such a person understands that all beings emerge from and dissolve back into the same material nature (prakṛti), yet the soul remains eternal and unchanged throughout this process. This realization leads to a state of equanimity where one sees all beings with equal vision, recognizing the same spiritual essence in all forms of life.
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