उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वाऽपि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम् ।
विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुष: ॥ १० ॥
utkrāmantaṁ sthitaṁ vāpi bhuñjānaṁ vā guṇānvitam
vimūḍhā nānupaśhyanti paśhyanti jñāna-chakṣhuṣhaḥ
श्लोक १०: भ्रमित मनुष्य आत्मा के एक शरीर से दूसरे शरीर में जाने की इस प्रक्रिया को समझ नहीं पाते। परंतु, जो ज्ञानवान हैं वे देख सकते हैं कि आत्मा एक शरीर से दूसरे शरीर में कैसे स्थानांतरित होती है, और एक शरीर में रहती है, और वह कैसे तीन गुणों के अधीन होकर भोग करती है।
Shloka 10: The deluded cannot perceive this movement of the living being fromone body to another. But those with the eye of wisdom can see the Self as it moves from one body to another, remains in one body, and how it enjoys under the influence of the three gunas.
In this verse, Sri Krishna addresses a subtle but profound aspect of human existence—the hidden journey of the soul. Most people only see the outer play of life: birth, activity, and death as a simple progression. But Krishna explains that something far deeper is happening. The soul, which is the eternal essence within every living being, is constantly migrating—leaving one body, residing in another, and interacting with the world through senses, all under the influence of nature's forces. This migration, though central to our reality, is not obvious to ordinary perception.
The verse points out that there are two kinds of vision: the outer and the inner. Our regular eyes merely notice bodies—people coming and going, talking, acting, aging. But very few can truly see the passage of the soul itself. Krishna makes a distinction between those who are “deluded” and those endowed with the “eye of knowledge.” The deluded, due to their immersion in material desires and their identification with bodily pleasures and pains, cannot perceive the deeper truth of what is occurring within life’s movements. Their awareness is clouded, like someone peering through foggy glasses, unable to make out the real contours of the landscape before them.
Krishna calls these individuals “vimūḍhāḥ”—the bewildered or foolish. Despite witnessing death, birth, and all sorts of experiences, they fail to see the soul as separate from the body. Their lives revolve around the pleasures and pains that the senses bring, and so their understanding remains limited to the visible and tangible. They look at a person and see only flesh and bone, joy and suffering, victory and defeat. The invisible thread—the true self—remains hidden from their view because their intellect is covered by attachment, aversion, and the distractions of the world.
In contrast, Krishna says that those who possess jñāna-cakṣus—the eyes of wisdom or knowledge—can see the reality that lies beneath the surface. This vision does not come from physical sight, but from the cultivation of inner understanding, often through scriptural study, reasoning, and contemplation. For those who have sharpened this inner vision, the dance of the soul becomes evident: they see that the body is merely a vessel, and the soul, their true identity, is passing through a grand journey shaped by past impressions and the modes of nature (guṇas) that orchestrate the experiences of pleasure, pain, and delusion.
This perception changes everything. When one recognizes that the soul can leave the body (“utkrāmantam”), reside in it (“sthitam”), and enjoy or suffer according to circumstances (“bhuñjānam vā guṇānvitam”), it becomes clear that bodily life is not the whole story. The soul is the unseen driver, and the body is just a temporary abode—like an actor wearing different costumes for different roles. But those oblivious to this truth remain engrossed in their roles, forgetting their real self is the actor, not the costume.
The inability to see this process, Krishna says, is not because the truth is inherently hidden, but because our preoccupations and conditioning make us blind to it. Much like someone lost in a movie, crying or laughing with the characters, we forget that we are not the screen or the story, but the witness behind it all. Those with inner wisdom step back and discern the layers: they understand that the soul is subject to transmigration and is affected by the play of guṇas, yet remains distinct from them.
Krishna’s message in this verse is both a revelation and an invitation. The true nature of life is subtle, and most people miss it—not by lack of evidence, but by lack of proper vision. By cultivating sincere inquiry, learning from wise sources, and reflecting deeply, one develops the inner sight to perceive the soul’s journey. This shift in awareness gradually transforms the way we see ourselves and others, helping us awaken to a reality where the soul’s timeless odyssey becomes visible, even as the world continues its ever-changing show.
Ultimately, this verse stands as a gentle reminder that what is essential is often invisible to the eyes. True perception begins with knowledge, humility, and a willingness to see beyond immediate appearances. As we nurture this vision, the mystery of life and the soul’s splendid path slowly unfolds before us, revealing both the challenge and the wonder of spiritual understanding.
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