paryaṭanti nareṣv evaṁ

yathā vastūni paṇyāni

hemādīni tatas tataḥ

paryaṭanti nareṣv evaṁ

jīvo yoniṣu kartṛṣu

Just as commodities and coins pass among many people, the jīva wanders into various wombs with various fathers and mothers.

“If an enemy becomes one’s son, how does affection arise for that person as a dear relative?” This is explained through an example. Panyāni means commodities. Hemādīni means gold coins. Gold coins in an enemy’s house are the cause of his murder. By chance those same gold coins come to one’s own house and become the object of affection and are used for enjoyment. In this way the jīva enters into wombs of men, cows, or donkeys, having various fathers and mothers.

|| 6.16.7 ||

nityasyārthasya sambandho

hy anityo dṛśyate nṛṣu

yāvad yasya hi sambandho

mamatvaṁ tāvad eva hi

It is seen that the relationships of one object with many people are temporary. As long as the relationship lasts, one has possessiveness of the object.

For some time I was the son of Citraketu and for that time he showed affection for me. Afterwards I will be the son of someone else, and that person will show affection for me. This is illustrated by making a particular case to make a general statement. One object like a coin goes to another person’s hand in one day during trading. Then it becomes his and no one else’s for some time. The relationship is temporary.

|| 6.16.8 ||

evaṁ yoni-gato jīvaḥ

sa nityo nirahaṅkṛtaḥ

yāvad yatropalabhyeta

tāvat svatvaṁ hi tasya tat

The jīva who has entered a body is actually without specific material identity. As long as the jīva stays in his body he identifies himself as the son of a particular father.

Actually the soul has no material identity. As long as he attains a body with a father (yatra), he thinks himself his son (tasya). Or, though the jīva is without identity, as long as it is in some body (yatra) the jīva (tasya) identifies himself with that body. How can I have false identity since I do not identify with that body any more? Therefore it is not proper to tell me to reenter the body.  

|| 6.16.9 ||