SB 11.13.36 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

देहं च नश्वरमवस्थितमुत्थितं वा सिद्धो न पश्यति यतोऽध्यगमत् स्वरूपम् । दैवादपेतमथ दैववशादुपेतं वासो यथा परिकृतं मदिरामदान्ध: ॥ ३६ ॥

Verse text

dehaṁ ca naśvaram avasthitam utthitaṁ vā siddho na paśyati yato ’dhyagamat svarūpam daivād apetam atha daiva-vaśād upetaṁ vāso yathā parikṛtaṁ madirā-madāndhaḥ

Synonyms

deham — the material body ; ca — also ; naśvaram — to be destroyed ; avasthitam — seated ; utthitam — risen ; vā — or ; siddhaḥ — one who is perfect ; na paśyati — does not see ; yataḥ — because ; adhyagamat — he has achieved ; sva — rūpam — his actual spiritual identity ; daivāt — by destiny ; apetam — departed ; atha — or thus ; daiva — of destiny ; vaśāt — by the control ; upetam — achieved ; vāsaḥ — clothes ; yathā — just as ; parikṛtam — placed on the body ; madirā — of liquor ; mada — by the intoxication ; andhaḥ — blinded .

Translation

Just as a drunken man does not notice if he is wearing his coat or shirt, similarly, one who is perfect in self-realization and who has thus achieved his eternal identity does not notice whether the temporary body is sitting or standing. Indeed, if by God’s will the body is finished or if by God’s will he obtains a new body, a self-realized soul does not notice, just as a drunken man does not notice the situation of his outward dress.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The perfected sage is not aware whether he is seated or standing while situated in the temporary body, since he has realized Brahman. He is like a drunken man who is not aware of receiving, putting on or taking off his clothing. Two verses describe the state of the person who has perfected jṣāna, who is jīvanmukta. He does not pay attention when he has risen from a seat or sits down again because he has attained realization of Brahman (svarūpam). An example is given. A drunken person is not aware if he is wearing or not wearing clothing.

Purport

A Kṛṣṇa conscious person who has achieved his spiritual identity does not accept sense gratification in the material world as the goal of his life. He is constantly engaged in the service of the Lord and knows that the temporary body and flickering mind are material. By superior intelligence in Kṛṣṇa consciousness he remains engaged in the Lord’s service. The example of a drunken man in this verse is very nice. It is common knowledge that at mundane social gatherings men become drunk and lose all awareness of their external situation. Similarly, a liberated soul has already achieved his spiritual body and therefore knows that his continued existence does not depend on the material body. A liberated soul does not, however, inflict punishment on the body but rather remains neutral, naturally accepting his destiny as the will of the Supreme.