yada bhuta-prithag-bhavam
eka-stham anupasyati
tata eva ca vistaram
brahma sampadyate tada

"When a sensible man ceases to see different identities due to different material bodies and he sees how beings are expanded everywhere, he attains to the Brahman conception."

Brahma sampadyate = attains Atma anubhavam [experiences soul]. Brahma here denotes Atman. Yada = when, bhuta = living beings such as Deva, men, women, animals, trees, etc. Each of them has a soul inside. Thus the association of soul and body or Prakriti and Purusha is denoted by bhuta. Prithag = difference, bhava = nature. Each of these living beings, is different, like short and tall, black and white, male and female, etc. Which is displaying this difference, in every living being, which is an association of soul and body? Is it Atman? Or, body? Or, the association? Sri Krishna tells that this difference is not exhibited by Atman. Nor by the association. But only by the body. Eka-stham anupasyati = sees [the difference] only in body. Tata eva = because of that, vistaram = expansion [of a family with young ones, sons, daughters, grandchildren and so on]. That is even the expansion of the species or families, with newborns like sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., is because of the body; and not due to Atman or the association of Atman and body. Thus we should first understand that we see differences among all living beings, which are the combination of a separate pair of body and soul. These differences are not due to the soul but only due to the body. Next, from the body, younger ones emerge, and the family grows. This is also because of the body only and never due to the soul. These Two principles - cause for differences and expansion - are to be remembered. When we say we are tall, the word 'we' does not indicate Atman but the body. If we say we are young, again the word 'we' pertains to the body. That is Atman 'we' is in the body that has grown tall or which is young. Atman is neither tall nor young. If a person has grown from child to boy to old man, Atman is constant without any change, but the body has undergone the change from child body to boy's body to old man's body. In spite of both Atman and body being together all along, only the body undergoes change and never the soul. Similarly, when one says he is Deva or elephant or mosquito, the perception of difference is on the body and not on the soul. Atman is neither Deva nor elephant nor mosquito. It remains always same as Atman. Thus a body made from Prakriti undergoes changes and this difference is perceived by us. This body only is the cause for other products such as children and grandchildren, etc., and is the cause for expansion of family and living beings. Tada = then, that is when this knowledge dawns, that person attains Atmanubhavam, or experiences soul. If we take the meaning for brahma as the Almighty, then this sloka tells about the person understanding these two principles, attaining oneness with Almighty or equal to Him. That is, he attains all the qualities of the Lord. Or, reaches Moksham. But the theme of this Chapter is not about reaching the Lord or getting Moksham. The theme is Atman sakshatkaram or Atma prapti or attaining soul to experience its nature. Therefore, brahma is to be interpreted as Atman and the person knowing these two principles, attains Atma prapti or Mukta Atma swaroopam or nature of a liberated soul. These are very difficult to understand but our elders have toiled to make them easier to understand. We should be grateful to Sri Gitacharya, for having explained these concepts. We will now take leave of this Kshetram.
                                                                                                     (continued)