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The Forty-Second Chapter
337. Even though the soul is beyond the senses, it is not desirous of worldly pleasures. It does not have any anxiety about objects of enjoyment, because it is free from such desires. ||66||
The one who has attained the beauty of the beyond senses does not desire to perform actions like bathing, etc. Because he is always pure, both internally and externally, he is considered a graduate (Snataka). ||70||
The body of the soul, which is beyond the senses, does not depend on food, etc. It is free from the afflictions of hunger, disease, poison, weapons, etc. ||71||
Such a soul is not desirous of austerities, free from birth, old age, and death. It does not desire another abode, being perfectly established in its own abode, the soul. ||72||
Such a soul, free from all defects, endowed with all virtues, is the Supreme Soul, the Supreme Light, the Supreme Lord. ||73||
Perhaps you might say that the ability to assume various forms at will (Kama-rupa) is a characteristic of the liberated soul. But this is not correct, because the one who is Kama-rupa is necessarily attached to desires and has not achieved his goal. ||74||
The one who is not capable of attaining his desired object by his natural form, how can he be happy by assuming a distorted form (Kama-rupa)? ||75||
This is an example of a human being. Now, let us give an example of a bird (Nigala).
Just as a bird, bound by chains, cannot reach its desired destination, similarly, a soul bound by the chains of karma cannot reach its desired destination. ||76||
Just as a person freed from bondage in this world attains supreme freedom, similarly, a soul freed from the bondage of karma also attains freedom. ||77||
Just as a bird bound by chains and a bird freed from chains are considered to be the same, similarly, a soul bound by karma and a soul freed from karma are also considered to be the same. ||78||
This is an example of a bird. Thus, these two examples have been given to illustrate the liberated and the worldly souls. To further strengthen this, let us give an example of a worldly soul. ||79||