सहैवाग्निभिरात्मानं युयोज परमात्मनि ॥५४॥
tatra taptvÄ tapas tÄ«kṣṇam
Ätma-darÅ›anam ÄtmavÄn
sahaivÄgnibhir ÄtmÄnaá¹
yuyoja paramÄtmani
tatra - in the forest; taptvÄ - executing austerity; tapaḥ - the regulative principles of austerity; tÄ«kṣṇam - very severely; Ätma-darÅ›anam - which helps self-realization; ÄtmavÄn - conversant with the self; saha - with; eva - certainly; agnibhiḥ - fires; ÄtmÄnam - the personal self; yuyoja - he engaged; parama-Ätmani - dealing with the Supreme Soul.
When Saubhari Muni, who was quite conversant with the self, went to the forest, he performed severe penances. In this way, in the fire at the time of death, he ultimately engaged himself in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
At the time of death, fire burns the gross body, and if there is no more desire for material enjoyment the subtle body is also ended, and in this way a pure soul remains. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (tyaktvÄ dehaá¹ punar janma naiti). If one is free from the bondage of both the gross and subtle material bodies and remains a pure soul, he returns home, back to Godhead, to be engaged in the service of the Lord. TyaktvÄ dehaá¹ punar janma naiti mÄm eti: he goes back home, back to Godhead. Thus it appears that Saubhari Muni attained that perfect stage.
