Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.13.27

jagrat svapnah sushuptam ca

gunato buddhi-vrittayah

tasam vilakshano jivah

sakshitvena viniscitah

SYNONYMS

jagrat -- being awake; svapnah -- dreaming; su-suptam -- deep sleep; ca -- also; gunatah -- caused by the modes of nature; buddhi -- of intelligence; vrittayah -- the functions; tasam -- from such functions; vilakshanah -- possessing different characteristics; jivah -- the living entity; sakshitvena -- with the characteristic of being a witness; viniscitah -- is ascertained.

TRANSLATION

Waking, sleeping and deep sleep are the three functions of the intelligence and are caused by the modes of material nature. The living entity within the body is ascertained to possess characteristics different from these three states and thus remains us a witness to them.

PURPORT

The spirit soul actually has nothing to do with the material world, having no permanent or natural relationship with it. Real renunciation means to give up the illusory identification with matter in its subtle and gross forms. Sushuptam, or deep sleep, indicates sleeping without any dreams or conscious activity. These three states are described by Lord Krishna as follows:

sattvaj jagaranam vidyad

rajasa svapnam adiset

prasvapam tamasa jantos

turiyam trishu santatam

"One should know that wakefulness is born of the mode of goodness, dreams from the mode of passion, and deep dreamless sleep from the mode of ignorance. The fourth element, pure consciousness, is different from these three and pervades them." (Bhag. 11.25.20) Real freedom means sakshitvena, or to exist as a witness to the functions of illusion. Such an advantageous position is achieved by development of Krishna consciousness.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari