bahir antaśh cha bhūtānām acharaṁ charam eva cha
sūkṣhmatvāt tad avijñeyaṁ dūra-sthaṁ chāntike cha tat
bahiḥ — outside;
antaḥ — inside;
cha — and;
bhūtānām — all living beings;
acharam — not moving;
charam — moving;
eva — indeed;
cha — and;
sūkṣhmatvāt — due to subtlety;
tat — he;
avijñeyam — incomprehensible;
dūra-stham — very far away;
cha — and;
antike — very near;
cha — also;
tat — he
This verse talks about the nature of the Supreme Truth, which can be understood as God or a higher power. It explains that this Supreme Being is everywhere, both inside and outside of all living things. Imagine the Supreme Truth as a bright light that shines both inside our hearts and outside in the world. This light is a part of everything around us, and yet it also exists at a level we can't see or touch.
The verse also mentions that this Supreme Truth is both 'moving' and 'nonmoving.' This might sound a bit confusing at first. In simple terms, 'moving' could refer to the living beings and things that are active, like animals and plants. 'Nonmoving' may refer to everything that is still, like rocks and trees. This means that the Supreme Truth is present in everything, from the most active beings to the most stable objects.
Now, the verse goes on to say that even though the Supreme Truth feels very far away, He is also very close. Think of it like a parent who lives far from you but is always in your heart. This shows how the Supreme Truth can feel distant to us in our everyday lives, yet He is always near when we look inward.
One important part of this verse is that our everyday senses—what we can see, hear, touch, and smell—are not enough to fully understand or see the Supreme Being. It's like trying to see a beautiful music note; we can hear it, but we cannot see it with our eyes. The same applies here; the richness and depth of the Supreme Truth cannot be fully grasped by our normal senses.
The interpretation also emphasizes that even if people can’t see the Supreme Truth due to our limited senses, those who practice deep devotion and spiritual exercises can come to know and feel Him. It’s like working hard to improve your skills in music or art; with dedication and practice, you can achieve a level of understanding that allows you to appreciate finer details.
Moreover, the interpretation mentions that through a pure heart, developed by loving devotion and service, people can experience the Supreme Truth consistently. It's like hearing a favorite song; once you know it well, you can recognize it anywhere, even if it's soft in the background. Similarly, devotees who genuinely love and serve the Supreme Being can recognize His presence and feel His closeness all the time.
In sum, this verse invites us to see the world differently, recognizing that the truth of existence is deeper than what we can observe with our senses. By letting go of distractions and nurturing our inner selves through love and devotion, we can connect to this higher power, which is always there, enveloping us inside and out.