1224 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 28

sva-yonisu—in forms of wood; yatha—as; jyotih—fire ; ekam—one; nana—
differently; pratiyate—is exhibited; yontnam—of different wombs; guna-
vaisamyat—from the different conditions of the modes; tatha—so; atma—
the spirit soul; prakrtau—in the material nature; sthitah —situated.

TRANSLATION

As fire is exhibited in different forms of wood, so, under different
conditions of the modes of material nature, the pure spirit soul manifests
itself in different bodies.

PURPORT

It is to be understood that the body is designated. Prakrti is an interaction
by the three modes of material nature, and according to these modes,
someone has a small body, and someone has a very large body. For exam-
ple, the fire in a big piece of wood appears to be very big, and ina stick
the fire appears to be small. Actually, the quality of fire is the same
everywhere, but the manifestation of material nature is such that according
to the fuel, the fire appears to be bigger and smaller. Similarly, the soul
in the universal body, although of the same quality, is different from the
soul in the smaller body.

The small particles of soul are just like sparks of the larger soul. The
greatest soul is the Supersoul, but the Supersoul is quantitatively different
from the small soul. The Supersoul is described in the Vedic literature as
the supplier of all necessities of the smaller soul (nityo nityanam). One
who understands this distinction between the Supersoul and the indi-
vidual soul is above lamentation and is in a peaceful position. When the
smaller soul thinks himself quantitatively as big as the larger soul, he is
under the spell of maya, for that is not his constitutional position. No one
can become the greater soul simply by mental speculation.

The smallness or greatness of different souls is described in the Varaha
Purana as svarnsa-vibhinnaimsa. The svarmsa soul is the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, and the vibhinnamsa souls, or small particles, are eternally
small particles, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhiitah sanatanah). The small living entities are eternally part and
parcel, and therefore it is not possible for them to be quantitatively as
great as the Supersoul.

TEXT 44

Teneat at rHfd at acATTTTG |
Saareat TAT aETnafaga level
