Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 2 Sankhya Yogah

अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते |
तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि ||25||

The soul is invisible, inconceivable, and unchangeable. Understanding this, one should not grieve for the body.

Avyakta: Unmanifest.
Acintya: Inconceivable.
Avikaryah: Immutable.

The soul is described as invisible, inconceivable, and unchangeable. Krishna advises Arjuna to not grieve for the body, as the soul transcends human comprehension and sensory perception. This teaching aims to help Arjuna detach from the limited understanding of the self as the physical body and instead see himself and others as eternal souls.

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अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम् |
तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि ||26||

Even if one believes the soul to be eternally born and dying repeatedly, still, there is no reason to grieve, O mighty-armed Arjuna.

Nitya: Always or eternal.
Jatam: Born.
Maha-baho: O mighty-armed one.

Even if Arjuna believes that the soul experiences repeated births and deaths, Krishna argues that there is no reason to grieve, as this cycle is inevitable. Death is merely a transition, not an end. This teaching seeks to diminish Arjuna’s fear of death and help him accept the impermanence of the physical body, which is subject to change.

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जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च |
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||27||

Death is certain for the born, and rebirth is inevitable for the dead. Therefore, one should not lament over the inevitable.

Dhruvah: Certain or inevitable.
Mrtyur: Death.
Apariharya: Unavoidable or inevitable.

Death is certain for those who are born, and rebirth is certain for the dead. This inevitability is part of life’s natural cycle. Krishna advises Arjuna not to lament over something that is beyond human control. By highlighting the certainty of death, Krishna aims to liberate Arjuna from his grief and fear, encouraging acceptance and detachment.

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Sankhya Yogah - All beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest during life, and unmanifest again after death. Why, then, lament over such transitions?

अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत |
अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ||28||

All beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest during life, and unmanifest again after death. Why, then, lament over such transitions?

Bhutani: Beings or creatures.
Paridevana: Lamentation or grieving.
Avyakta: Unmanifest.

All beings are unmanifest before birth and unmanifest again after death, becoming manifest only in between. Krishna highlights the fleeting nature of physical existence. This teaching emphasizes the transient nature of life’s physical form, urging Arjuna to see beyond it and focus on the eternal, unchanging nature of the soul.

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Sankhya Yogah - Some see the soul as astonishing, some describe it as astonishing, and some hear of it as astonishing, while others, even after hearing, do not understand it at all.

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्य: |
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्य: शृ्णोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ||29||

Some see the soul as astonishing, some describe it as astonishing, and some hear of it as astonishing, while others, even after hearing, do not understand it at all.

Ascaryavat: Astonishing or wondrous.
Srnoti: Hears or listens.
Enam: This, referring to the soul.

Some perceive the soul as wondrous, others describe it as wondrous, while others hear of it as wondrous, and even after hearing, many do not understand it at all. Krishna acknowledges the mysterious nature of the soul, emphasizing that it is beyond ordinary understanding. This statement is meant to inspire Arjuna to seek deeper wisdom.

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देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत |
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||30||

The soul within all living entities is eternal and indestructible. Therefore, Arjuna, you should not grieve for any living being.

Avadhyah: Indestructible.
Bhutani: All beings.
Bharata: Descendant of Bharata.

Krishna reiterates that the soul within all living entities is eternal and indestructible. He advises Arjuna not to grieve for any being. This teaching aims to provide Arjuna with a broader perspective on life and death, emphasizing the futility of lamenting over physical destruction when the true self remains untouched and eternal.

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स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि |
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||31||

Considering your own duty as a warrior, you should not waver. For a Kshatriya, there is no greater duty than a righteous war.

Svadharma: One’s own duty.
Ksatrasya: Of a warrior.
Yuddha: Battle or war.

Krishna reminds Arjuna of his duty as a Kshatriya (warrior), which is to engage in battle to uphold righteousness. Refusing to fight would mean abandoning his duty and would result in sin. Krishna’s message is clear: a warrior should uphold his duty without attachment to victory or defeat, maintaining focus on the larger moral and social order.

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