padārtheṣu yathā dravyaṁ
san-mātraṁ rūpa-nāmasu
bījādi-pañcatāntāsu
hy avasthāsu yutāyutam
pada-artheṣu - within material objects; yathā - just as; dravyam - the basic substance; sat-mātram - the sheer existence of things; rūpa-nāmasu - among their forms and names; bīja-ādi - beginning from the seed (i.e., from the time of conception); pañcatā-antāsu - ending with death; hi - indeed; avasthāsu - throughout the various phases of bodily existence; yuta-ayutam - both conjoined and separate.
Moist clay can be molded into various shapes and named “waterpot,” “flowerpot” or “storage pot.” Despite the various names and forms, the essential ingredient, earth, is constantly present. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is present throughout a material body’s stages of bodily existence. The Lord is identical with material nature, being its ultimate generating source. At the same time, the unique Supreme Being exists separately, aloof in His own abode.