TEXT 39
satyam puspa-phalam vidyad
atma-vrksasya giyate
vrkse jivati tan na syad
anrtam mulam atmanah
SYNONYMS
satyamthe factual truth; puspa-phalamthe flower and the fruit; vidyatone should understand; atma-vrksasyaof the tree of the body; giyateas described in the Vedas; vrkse ajivatiif the tree is not living; tatthat (puspa-phalam); nanot; syatis possible; anrtamuntruth; mulamthe root; atmanahof the body.
TRANSLATION
The Vedas enjoin that the factual result of the tree of the body is the good fruits and flowers derived from it. But if the bodily tree does not exist, there is no possibility of factual fruits and flowers. Even if the body is based on untruth, there cannot be factual fruits and flowers without the help of the bodily tree.
PURPORT
This sloka explains that in relation to the material body even the factual truth cannot exist without a touch of untruth. The Mayavadis say, brahma satyam jagan mithya: The spirit soul is truth, and the external energy is untruth. The Vaisnava philosophers, however, do not agree with the Mayavada philosophy. Even if for the sake of argument the material world is accepted as untruth, the living entity entangled in the illusory energy cannot come out of it without the help of the body. Without the help of the body, one cannot follow a system of religion, nor can one speculate on philosophical perfection. Therefore, the flower and fruit (puspa-phalam) have to be obtained as a result of the body. Without the help of the body, that fruit cannot be gained. The Vaisnava philosophy therefore recommends yukta-vairagya. It is not that all attention should be diverted for the maintenance of the body, but at the same time ones bodily maintenance should not be neglected. As long as the body exists one can thoroughly study the Vedic instructions, and thus at the end of life one can achieve perfection. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita [Bg. 8.6]: yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram. Everything is examined at the time of death. Therefore, although the body is temporary, not eternal, one can take from it the best service and make ones life perfect.

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