Text 12
yathā jala-stha ābhāsaḥ
sthala-sthenāvadṛśyate
svābhāsena tathā sūryo
jala-sthena divi sthitaḥ
yathā — as; jala-sthaḥ — situated on water; ābhāsaḥ — a reflection; sthala-sthena — situated on the wall; avadṛśyate — is perceived; sva-ābhāsena — by its reflection; tathā — in that way; sūryaḥ — the sun; jala-sthena — situated on the water; divi — in the sky; sthitaḥ — situated.
The presence of the Supreme Lord can be realized just as the sun is realized first as a reflection on water, and again as a second reflection on the wall of a room, although the sun itself is situated in the sky.
The example given herewith is perfect. The sun is situated in the sky, far, far away from the surface of the earth, but its reflection can be seen in a pot of water in the corner of a room. The room is dark, and the sun is far away in the sky, but the sun’s reflection on the water illuminates the darkness of the room. A pure devotee can realize the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in everything by the reflection of His energy. In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is stated that as the presence of fire is understood by heat and light, so the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although one without a second, is perceived everywhere by the diffusion of His different energies. It is confirmed in the Īśopaniṣad that the presence of the Lord is perceived everywhere by the liberated soul, just as the sunshine and the reflection can be perceived everywhere although the sun is situated far away from the surface of the globe.