Verse 13.33

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 13.33:

यथा सर्व-गतं सौक्ष्म्याद् आकाशं नोपलिप्यते ।
सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथात्मा नोपलिप्यते ॥ ३३ ॥

yathā sarva-gataṃ saukṣmyād ākāśaṃ nopalipyate |
sarvatrāvasthito dehe tathātmā nopalipyate || 33 ||

yathā–just as; sarva-gatam–the all-pervading; saukṣmyāt–due to its subtle nature; ākāśam–sky; na upalipyate–is untouched; sarvatra–throughout; avasthitaḥ–situated; dehe–the material body; tathā–in the same way; ātmā–the Supersoul; na upalipyate–is unaffected.

Just as the all-pervading sky does not mix with anything due to its subtle nature, in the same way, the Supersoul is unaffected by the qualities or faults of the material body, even though He pervades it.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Here, Śrī Bhagavān speaks the verse beginning with yathā sarva-gatam‚ in which He gives an example. The sky pervades mud and other material objects due to its subtle nature, yet it does not become contaminated or mixed with them. Similarly, the liberated soul who has attained the nature of brahma does not become influenced by the qualities and defects related to the material body, although residing within it.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

The sky, although all-pervasive, remains free from any contaminating association or influence, and is thus always aloof. Similarly, the pure living entity who has attained the state of brahma also does not become influenced by the qualities of the body even though he resides within it. He always remains unaffected.