SB 3.28.39 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

यथा पुत्राच्च वित्ताच्च पृथङ्‌मर्त्य: प्रतीयते । अप्यात्मत्वेनाभिमताद्देहादे: पुरुषस्तथा ॥ ३९ ॥

Verse text

yathā putrāc ca vittāc ca pṛthaṅ martyaḥ pratīyate apy ātmatvenābhimatād dehādeḥ puruṣas tathā

Synonyms

yathā — as ; putrāt — from a son ; ca — and ; vittāt — from wealth ; ca — also ; pṛthak — differently ; martyaḥ — a mortal man ; pratīyate — is understood ; api — even ; ātmatvena — by nature ; abhimatāt — for which one has affection ; deha — ādeḥ — from his material body, senses and mind ; puruṣaḥ — the liberated soul ; tathā — similarly .

Translation

Because of great affection for family and wealth, one accepts a son and some money as his own, and due to affection for the material body, one thinks that it is his. But actually, as one can understand that his family and wealth are different from him, the liberated soul can understand that he and his body are not the same.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Just as the father is actually different from his son or wealth, though he identifies them as his self out of affection, so the jīva is different from his body. In order to gain knowledge, those aspiring for liberation should always think in the following manner, explained in three verses. Just as a father is different from his son, though he regards the son as himself out of affection, so the jīva is different from his body.

Purport

The status of real knowledge is explained in this verse. There are many children, but we accept some children as our sons and daughters because of our affection for them, although we know very well that these children are different from us. Similarly, because of great affection for money, we accept some amount of wealth in the bank as ours. In the same way, we claim that the body is ours because of affection for it. I say that it is “my” body. I then extend that possessive concept and say, “It is my hand, my leg,” and further, “It is my bank balance, my son, my daughter.” But actually I know that the son and the money are separate from me. It is the same with the body; I am separate from my body. It is a question of understanding, and the proper understanding is called pratibuddha. By obtaining knowledge in devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can become a liberated soul.