yadā bhūta-pṛithag-bhāvam eka-stham anupaśhyati
tata eva cha vistāraṁ brahma sampadyate tadā
yadā — when;
bhūta — living entities;
pṛithak-bhāvam — diverse variety;
eka-stham — situated in the same place;
anupaśhyati — see;
tataḥ — thereafter;
eva — indeed;
cha — and;
vistāram — born from;
brahma — Brahman;
sampadyate — (they) attain;
tadā — then
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita is talking about how we perceive ourselves and others in the world. Imagine that we often see people and animals as very different from each other. We classify them into categories like humans, animals, or even looking at them based on their roles in life, such as teachers, students, friends, or rivals. This way of seeing things is shaped by what we see on the outside—the body, skin color, or social status. But this understanding is quite limited.
The verse is saying that when a wise person stops focusing on these differences—what clothes someone wears, what job they have, or even what species they belong to—they begin to see a deeper truth. They realize that all living beings share the same essence, which is the spirit or soul that lives inside each body. This soul is like a small spark of light, and it doesn't change with different bodies or appearances.
When someone understands this, they will recognize that just because a dog or a cat looks different from a human, that doesn’t mean they are separate in a fundamental way. All these forms—human beings, animals, and plants—are just different bodies that the same spirit can take on. The spirit itself is eternal and never truly dies; it simply changes form when a person or an animal dies. The physical body may seem important, but it’s the spirit inside that is most significant.
So, when someone sees things this way—by looking past the outer appearances—they gain what is called 'spiritual sight.' This means they see everyone and everything as connected, all part of a larger whole. They understand that while people may appear different, underneath, they are all the same.
This realization fills a person with a sense of unity with all living beings. They become less focused on titles, roles, or statuses and more connected to a sense of belonging to the universe itself. This helps them treat all beings with respect and kindness, lifting them above petty quarrels and competitions that stem from material differences.
Such a viewpoint allows a person to grow in their spiritual life. They can cultivate their understanding of a greater reality, which is often referred to as 'Krsna consciousness' or awareness of this deeper connection to the divine.
The next verse will explain even more about how this understanding affects the way we experience life and our reality.