Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 43
Kapila Describes Bhakti-Saturated Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga and Meditation on the Lord’s Form
स्वयोनिषु यथा ज्योतिरेकं नाना प्रतीयते । योनीनां गुणवैषम्यात्तथात्मा प्रकृतौ स्थित: ॥ ४३ ॥
sva-yoniṣu yathā jyotir ekaṁ nānā pratīyate yonīnāṁ guṇa-vaiṣamyāt tathātmā prakṛtau sthitaḥ
ដូចជាពន្លឺភ្លើងតែមួយដែលបង្ហាញខុសៗគ្នានៅក្នុងឈើប្រភេទផ្សេងៗ ក៏ដូច្នេះដែរ អាត្មាតែមួយដោយសារភាពខុសគ្នានៃគុណៈនៃប្រក្រឹតិ បង្ហាញខុសៗគ្នានៅក្នុងរាងកាយនានា។
It is to be understood that the body is designated. Prakṛti 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 example, the fire in a big piece of wood appears very big, and in a stick the fire appears 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 bigger and smaller. Similarly, the soul in the universal body, although of the same quality, is different from the soul in the smaller body.
FAQs
This verse explains that the Self is one, but appears diverse because bodies and species differ by the mixture of material modes (guṇas), like one light seeming many in different containers.
Kapila is teaching Devahūti discernment in meditation—separating the unchanging Self from changing material nature—so she can progress on the path of devotional realization.
It encourages seeing beyond external labels (body, status, temperament) and recognizing the same spiritual self within, reducing envy and increasing compassion and steadiness in bhakti practice.