The text says that in the presence of a saint, 'death is not death.' What does this mean?

This statement reflects a profound re-framing of the concept of death. According to Chapter 31, a death that occurs under a saint's gaze is not an end but a transformation into a higher state of being. The text clarifies that such an event is 'not death, it is Vaikuntha's (heaven's) bliss' and by it, one 'has conquered the mortal world' (Verse 149). It is also called 'true self-salvation' rather than death (Verse 151). This means the soul is liberated from the cycle of rebirth and suffering, its sins are atoned for, and it attains the ultimate spiritual goal. The physical act of dying is thus overshadowed by the spiritual victory of salvation, turning an event of sorrow into one of supreme joy and fulfillment.