ŚB 3.27.18
Devanagari
यथा गन्धस्य भूमेश्च न भावो व्यतिरेकत: ।
अपां रसस्य च यथा तथा बुद्धे: परस्य च ॥ १८ ॥
अपां रसस्य च यथा तथा बुद्धे: परस्य च ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
yathā gandhasya bhūmeś ca
na bhāvo vyatirekataḥ
apāṁ rasasya ca yathā
tathā buddheḥ parasya ca
na bhāvo vyatirekataḥ
apāṁ rasasya ca yathā
tathā buddheḥ parasya ca
Synonyms
Translation
As there is no separate existence of the earth and its aroma or of water and its taste, there cannot be any separate existence of intelligence and consciousness.
Purport
The example is given here that anything material has an aroma. The flower, the earth — everything — has an aroma. If the aroma is separated from the matter, the matter cannot be identified. If there is no taste to water, the water has no meaning; if there is no heat in the fire, the fire has no meaning. Similarly, when there is want of intelligence, spirit has no meaning.