Bhagavata Purana 11.22.45
Srimad Bhagavatam · 22 · Verse 45
Sanskrit Original
सोऽयं दीपोऽर्चिषां यद्वत्स्रोतसां तदिदं जलम् । सोऽयं पुमानिति नृणां मृषा गीर्धीर्मृषायुषाम् ॥ ४५ ॥
so ’yaṁ dīpo ’rciṣāṁ yadvat srotasāṁ tad idaṁ jalam so ’yaṁ pumān iti nṛṇāṁ mṛṣā gīr dhīr mṛṣāyuṣām
Although the illumination of a lamp consists of innumerable rays of light undergoing constant creation, transformation and destruction, a person with illusory intelligence who sees the light for a moment will speak falsely, saying, “This is the light of the lamp.” As one observes a flowing river, ever-new water passes by and goes far away, yet a foolish person, observing one point in the river, falsely states, “This is the water of the river.” Similarly, although the material body of a human being is constantly undergoing transformation, those who are simply wasting their lives falsely think and say that each particular stage of the body is the person’s real identity.