Text 14] Understanding Material Nature 1151
bhiita-sitksmendriya-mano-
buddhy-ddisv tha nidraya
linesv asati yas tatra
vinidro nirahankriyah

bhiita—the material elements; siiksma—the objects of enjoyment; indriya
—the material senses; manah— mind; buddhi—intelligence; adisu—and so on;
tha—here; nidraya—by sleep; linesu—merged; asati—in the unmanifest; yah—
who; tatra—there; vinidrah—awake; nirahankriyah—freed from false ego.

TRANSLATION

Although he appears to be merged in the five material elements, the
objects of material enjoyment, the material senses and material mind and
intelligence, a devotee is understood to be awake and to be freed from the
false ego.

PURPORT

The explanation by Rupa Gosvami in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu of how
a person can be liberated even in this body is more elaborately explained
in this verse. The living entity who has become satya-drk, who realizes
his position in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
may remain apparently merged in the five elements of matter, the five
material sense objects, the ten senses and the mind and the intelligence,
but still he is considered to be awake and to be freed from the reaction of
false ego. Here the word lina is very significant. The Mayavadi philosophers
recommend merging in the impersonal effulgence of Brahman; that is
their ultimate goal or destination. That merging is also mentioned here.
But in spite of merging, one can keep his individuality. The example given
by Jiva Gosvami is that a green bird who enters a green tree appears to
merge in the color of greenness, but actually the bird does not lose its
individuality. Similarly, a living entity merged either in the material
nature or in the spiritual nature does not give up his individuality. Real
individuality is to understand oneself to be the eternal servitor of the
Supreme Lord. This information is received from the mouth of Lord
Caitanya. He said clearly, upon the inquiry of Sanatana Gosvami, that a
living entity is the servitor of Krsna eternally. Krsna also confirms in
Bhagavad-gita that the living entity is eternally His part and parcel. The
part and parcel is meant to serve the whole. This is individuality. It is so
even in this material existence, when the living entity apparently merges
in matter. His gross body is made up of five elements, his subtle body is
made of mind, intelligence, false ego and contaminated consciousness, and
