Devanagari
यथा जलस्थ आभास: स्थलस्थेनावदृश्यते ।
स्वाभासेन तथा सूर्यो जलस्थेन दिवि स्थित: ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
yathā jala-stha ābhāsaḥ
sthala-sthenāvadṛśyate
svābhāsena tathā sūryo
jala-sthena divi sthitaḥ
Synonyms
yathā
—
as
;
jala
—
sthaḥ — situated on water
;
ābhāsaḥ
—
a reflection
;
sthala
—
sthena — situated on the wall
;
avadṛśyate
—
is perceived
;
sva
—
ābhāsena — by its reflection
;
tathā
—
in that way
;
sūryaḥ
—
the sun
;
jala
—
sthena — situated on the water
;
divi
—
in the sky
;
sthitaḥ
—
situated .
Translation
The presence of the Supreme Lord can be realized just as the sun is realized first as a reflection on water, and again as a second reflection on the wall of a room, although the sun itself is situated in the sky.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
A reflection in water reflected on a wall is inferred to come from the image reflected on water, and the sun situated in the sky is inferred by this reflection on water. Similarly, the jīva, existing with the imposition of three-fold anaṅkāra, is inferred by its reflection in the body, senses and mind, and from this, Paramātmā is inferred by the jīva purified by bhakti.
How the jīva can be understood and then how Paramātmā can be understood are explained with an example. When the reflection of the sun in water without disturbance appears on the clean wall of a house, people sitting in a corner of the house first sees the reflection on the wall. They think, “Where is this reflection coming from?” They then infer that it is the reflection of the bright sun on still water, reflected on the wall. Where does the reflection on the water come from? They then infer that the sun is shining in the sky and by is reflection in the water, creates the reflection on the wall. Intelligent people first see the manifestations of Paramātmā in the body, senses and mind since it possesses consciousness. Then they ask “Where does this manifestation of Paramātmā come from?” They infer that the jīvāṭmā, which exists by misidentification in the three fold ahaṅkāra, is a ray of the manifestation of Paramātmā by its reflection in the body, senses and mind. By the presence of jīvātmā, filled with bhakti (sadābhāsena), who is a manifestation of the Paramātmā, one then realizes Paramātmā, full of existence, knowledge and bliss (satyadṛk).
Purport
The example given herewith is perfect. The sun is situated in the sky, far, far away from the surface of the earth, but its reflection can be seen in a pot of water in the corner of a room. The room is dark, and the sun is far away in the sky, but the sun’s reflection on the water illuminates the darkness of the room. A pure devotee can realize the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in everything by the reflection of His energy. In the
Viṣṇu Purāṇa
it is stated that as the presence of fire is understood by heat and light, so the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although one without a second, is perceived everywhere by the diffusion of His different energies. It is confirmed in the
Īśopaniṣad
that the presence of the Lord is perceived everywhere by the liberated soul, just as the sunshine and the reflection can be perceived everywhere although the sun is situated far away from the surface of the globe.