Shloka 43
Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus
Beginnings
तेजोऽबन्नमयैर्भावैर्मेघाद्यैर्वायुनेरितै: । न स्पृश्यते नभस्तद्वत् कालसृष्टैर्गुणै: पुमान् ॥ ४३ ॥
tejo-’b-anna-mayair bhāvair meghādyair vāyuneritaiḥ na spṛśyate nabhas tadvat kāla-sṛṣṭair guṇaiḥ pumān
കാറ്റാൽ നീങ്ങുന്ന മേഘങ്ങളും കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകളും ആകാശത്തെ സ്പർശിക്കാത്തതുപോലെ, കാലസൃഷ്ട ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ സമ്പർക്കത്തിലും ആത്മാവ് യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ മാറുകയോ മലിനമാകുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്നില്ല।
Although the sky appears to be affected by the mighty movements of wind, rain, hurricanes, lightning and thunder, etc., the sky, being very subtle, is actually not affected, but is rather the background for such visible activities. Similarly, although the material body and mind undergo innumerable changes, such as birth and death, happiness and distress, love and hate, the eternal living entity is merely the background for such activities. The spirit soul, being most subtle, is not actually affected; only due to misidentification with the superficial activities of the body and mind does the soul undergo terrible distress within the material world.
FAQs
This verse explains that just as the sky is not actually touched by clouds, wind, or lightning, the true self is not inherently affected by the material modes created by time.
To show Uddhava that worldly changes—created by time and the gunas—are external phenomena, while the self remains distinct; this supports steady devotion and inner freedom.
Practice witnessing thoughts and circumstances as passing “clouds,” while grounding identity in the soul and in devotion—so situations arise and move on without defining you.