The contact of the senses with objects produces cold, heat, pleasure, and pain, which are temporary. Krishna advises Arjuna to endure them patiently.
Krishna advises Arjuna to endure pleasure and pain as mere interactions between senses and objects. He points out that these sensations are temporary, encouraging Arjuna to rise above them and maintain equanimity. This lesson serves as an introduction to the concept of detachment, which will be elaborated upon in the subsequent teachings.
Krishna assures Arjuna that the person who remains unaffected by pain and pleasure, and remains balanced, is eligible for liberation.
Krishna declares that one who is not disturbed by happiness or distress and remains calm in both is eligible for liberation. This shloka highlights the importance of equanimity, suggesting that spiritual growth is achieved through steadfastness and inner strength, rather than succumbing to the fleeting nature of worldly experiences.
The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be. The seers of truth have concluded the nature of these two realities.
Krishna differentiates between the real and the unreal. The unreal, being temporary, will eventually perish, while the real, being eternal, never ceases to exist. This teaching helps Arjuna shift his focus from the perishable physical body to the indestructible soul, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of life and its true essence.
The soul, which pervades the body, is indestructible. No one can bring about the destruction of this eternal entity.
Krishna reassures Arjuna that the soul, which pervades the entire body, is indestructible. By asserting the soul’s invincibility, Krishna aims to alleviate Arjuna’s fears and encourage him to perform his duty without being burdened by concerns of death or destruction. This teaching serves to bolster Arjuna’s courage and resolve.
The bodies inhabited by the soul are perishable, but the soul itself is eternal and immeasurable. Therefore, Arjuna should not grieve for the body.
Krishna emphasizes that the body is temporary, but the soul is eternal and cannot be destroyed. He advises Arjuna to view the body as a vessel that the soul temporarily inhabits. This understanding is meant to help Arjuna detach from his attachment to the physical forms of his loved ones and recognize the soul’s true, everlasting nature.
Anyone who believes that the soul kills or can be killed is ignorant. The soul neither kills nor can it be killed.
Krishna explains that the soul neither kills nor can it be killed, removing any moral dilemma associated with physical death. By this logic, killing in the battlefield affects only the body, not the soul. This insight is meant to release Arjuna from guilt and help him see beyond the physical consequences of his actions.
The soul is never born and never dies. It is unborn, eternal, and ever-existing. It does not perish when the body is destroyed.
The soul is never born, nor does it die. It is eternal, without beginning or end, and cannot be destroyed even when the body is slain. Krishna’s teaching aims to shift Arjuna’s perspective from the temporary nature of the body to the timelessness of the soul, allowing him to overcome his attachment and grief for those on the battlefield.