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.
Knowing the soul to be indestructible, unborn, and immutable, how can one think of it as a killer or be killed?
Understanding the eternal and unchangeable nature of the soul, one should not consider themselves as the killer or the killed. This teaching is meant to encourage Arjuna to look beyond physical actions and comprehend the soul’s imperishable essence, which cannot be harmed or destroyed by any external force, making him rise above fear and doubt.
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.