In plain words
The lump of clay is one, in the form of many pots; the gold is one, in many ornaments; the milk of cows is one, present in many cows; the Supreme Ātma is one, dwelling in many bodies.
Embodiments of Prema!
Clay is one, but the forms and names that take shape through this clay are many. Gold is one, but the ornaments, with their many forms and names, stand apart from one another. The milk of cows is of one colour, white. But the cows appear different, in various colours. God is one! But He takes on many forms and names and holds the whole universe spellbound. If we inquire well and look at the world, one and the same substance takes on many forms and names and goes on being used and enjoyed in many ways. The seed is one! But the trunk is different, the branches different, the twigs different, the leaves different, the flowers different, the fruits different. All these have their various forms and names and are put to use in various ways. But it is one substance.
The Nimitta Kāraṇa and the Upādāna Kāraṇa Last for Ever
‘Ekohaṃ bahusyāṃ.’ Divinity is one, yet it appears as many. For this we must inquire into three causes. For the effect called a pot, the potter is the nimitta kāraṇa. That is the effect. This is the nimitta kāraṇa. Its upādāna kāraṇa is the clay itself. These pots may break, but the clay never changes. This is the upādāna kāraṇa. Taking as his base this clay, the upādāna kāraṇa, the potter went on making pots.