As the fish, though living in the water, is to be considered as separate from it, similarly is the Soul to be apprehended, i.e., though the Soul exists in a state of contact with the Nature, it is, however, in its real nature, separate form, and independent of Nature, When overwhelmed with the consciousness of Self, and when unable to understand its identity with the Supreme Soul, on account of the illusion that covers it, of its co-existence with Nature, and of its own manner of thinking, the Individual Soul always sinks down, but when freed from such consciousness it goes upwards.
यथैव बुध्यते मत्स्यस्तथैषोऽप्यनुबुध्यते। स स्नेहात् सहवासाच्च साभिमानाच्च नित्यशः॥ स निमज्जति कालस्य यदैकत्वं न बुध्यते। उन्मज्जति हि कालस्य समत्वेनाभिसंवृतः॥