Just as a person discards worn-out clothes and wears new ones, the soul discards worn-out bodies and takes on new ones.
Krishna likens the soul’s transition between bodies to a person changing worn-out clothes. Just as one discards old garments for new ones, the soul leaves a worn-out body for a new one. This analogy simplifies the concept of reincarnation, making it easier for Arjuna to understand and accept the inevitability of death and rebirth.
The soul cannot be cut by weapons, burned by fire, moistened by water, or dried by wind. It is imperishable.
The soul cannot be cut by weapons, burned by fire, moistened by water, or dried by wind. Krishna uses these vivid metaphors to emphasize the soul’s invulnerability and indestructible nature. By doing so, he seeks to alleviate Arjuna’s fears of harming or being harmed, redirecting his focus to the unchanging, eternal essence of the soul.
The soul is indestructible, immovable, and eternal. It cannot be damaged by any external force.
Krishna describes the soul as indestructible, immovable, and eternal, unaffected by any physical force. This understanding is crucial for Arjuna, as it reassures him that no matter what happens in the battle, the soul remains unchanged and unaffected. This teaching encourages Arjuna to act without attachment or fear of loss.
The soul is invisible, inconceivable, and unchangeable. Understanding this, one should not grieve for the body.
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.
Even if one believes the soul to be eternally born and dying repeatedly, still, there is no reason to grieve, O mighty-armed Arjuna.
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.
Death is certain for the born, and rebirth is inevitable for the dead. Therefore, one should not lament over the 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.
All beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest during life, and unmanifest again after death. Why, then, lament over such transitions?
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.