विवेचन सारांश

The Eternal Self: A Lesson to Overcome Grief

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān imparts a profound truth about the nature of the soul. He emphasizes that the true Self, or soul, is eternal and pervades all of existence. This imperishable essence transcends the physical realm and cannot be destroyed. While the body is mortal and subject to decay, the soul remains unchanging and indestructible.

In Sāṁkhya philosophy, creation is viewed as a combination of Puruṣa (Consciousness)—the eternal, unchanging observer—and Prakṛti (Primordial Nature)—the dynamic, material aspect of existence. The body (Prakṛti) requires consciousness (Purusha) for life, yet Purusha itself remains independent and beyond the confines of physical form. Śrī Bhagavān highlights that Arjuna’s grief stems from forgetting this Avinashi Tattva (imperishable consciousness), leading to moha (attachment) and dukkha (sorrow).

Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj captures the discerning vision of the seers of truth through an elegant metaphor: 

सलिलीं पय जैसें | एक होऊन मीनलें असे।
परीं निवडूनि राजहंसें | वेगळें कीजे ॥ १२७ ॥

Just as water and milk blend seamlessly, The royal swan discerns and separates them.

This analogy underscores the ability of wise individuals to distinguish the eternal truth (soul) from the transient physical form, much like the swan discerning milk amidst water.

• avināśi tu tad viddhi: Understand this essence as "avināśi" (imperishable), beyond destruction.
• yena sarvam idaṃ tatam: This eternal presence permeates the entire cosmos.
• vināśam avyayasya asya: The unchanging and indestructible nature of the soul ensures its continuity beyond the cycle of birth and death.
• na kaścit kartum arhati: No force can bring about the end of this eternal essence.

Key Insight

This verse emphasizes the soul's unchanging and immortal nature. Realizing that the soul is beyond decay or destruction cultivates inner strength and detachment. Śrī Bhagavān encourages us to look beyond the impermanent aspects of life and connect with the eternal truth within, fostering resilience and profound peace amidst life’s changing circumstances.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān enlightens Arjuna on the fundamental difference between the body and the soul. The body, being made of matter, is finite and subject to decay. It is transient and will eventually perish. However, the soul—the true essence within the body—is eternal, indestructible, and beyond any physical or measurable bounds. By understanding this distinction, Arjuna is encouraged to fulfill his duty as a warrior without attachment or fear for the physical consequences, knowing that the soul remains untouched by the demise of the body.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān imparts a deeper understanding of the soul's true nature. He emphasizes that those who perceive the soul as capable of killing or being killed are mistaken, as such notions pertain only to the physical body. The soul, being eternal and beyond all material actions, is untouched by the cycles of life and death that apply to the body. This teaching underscores that the Self, or soul, transcends the dualities of existence and remains unaffected by any act of violence or destruction.

• ya enaṃ vetti hantāraṃ: Refers to one who mistakenly believes the soul has the power to kill or harm.
• yaś ca enaṃ manyate hatam: Points to one who thinks the soul itself can be destroyed or killed.
• ubhau tau na vijānīto: Śrī Bhagavān states that both perspectives stem from ignorance and misunderstanding of the soul’s eternal nature.
• nāyaṃ hanti na hanyate: The soul neither kills nor can it be killed; it exists beyond the realm of physical acts and limitations.

Key Insight

This verse highlights the soul’s transcendent and immutable nature, which is not bound by the physical concepts of life and death. Śrī Bhagavān teaches that the soul remains eternally detached from actions like killing or being killed, urging us to recognize its indestructible essence. This understanding fosters a perspective that transcends fear and attachment, allowing one to engage in the world with an awareness rooted in the soul’s immortality.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān elaborates on the eternal nature of the soul, emphasizing that it is beyond birth and death. Unlike the physical body, which undergoes changes, decay, and eventual destruction, the soul remains constant and unaffected. This teaching highlights that the soul is not created at a certain time nor does it cease to exist; it is ever-present and ageless. Śrī Bhagavān reminds Arjuna that the death of the body does not equate to the death of the true Self, which is the soul.

To draw a simple analogy, just as we might struggle to recognize school friends at a reunion due to their physical changes, our true connection lies beyond the body. The soul, which is constant and unchanged, is the essence that endures.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān illuminates the nature of the soul and its transcendence over physical actions. He teaches that the soul is eternal, beyond birth and death, and unchanging. This understanding frees one from misconceptions tied to the physical body, such as notions of killing or being killed. Bhagavān’s message is clear: the true Self is untouched by any act or consequence associated with the material world.

When a full pot is overturned, its reflection appears shattered, but the sun itself remains unaffected. This metaphor underscores that while external events (the pot and reflection) may change, the true essence (the sun) remains intact.

Just as the sky appears to be contained within a pot, when the pot breaks, the sky remains unchanged. This signifies that the eternal Self is unaffected by the physical state of the body.

Śrī Bhagavān presents a simple yet profound analogy to illustrate the soul’s journey through different bodies. Just as one changes old clothes for new ones, the soul sheds its aged or unfit body and moves into a fresh one. This analogy highlights the soul’s continuity and detachment from the physical form. The soul itself remains unaffected, regardless of the number of bodies it passes through, emphasizing that life and death are merely transitions in the soul’s eternal existence.

• vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya: Symbolizes the act of discarding worn-out garments, representing how the soul leaves behind an old body.
• navāni gṛhṇāti naro'parāṇi: Just as a person takes up new clothes, the soul adopts new bodies to continue its journey.
• tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāni: Reflects the departure from an old, exhausted body.
• anyāni saṃyāti navāni dehī: The embodied soul (dehī) moves forward into new bodies, signaling the cyclical nature of life.

Key Insight

This verse invites us to perceive the body as a temporary covering for the eternal soul. By understanding this, one can develop detachment from physical changes and accept the natural flow of life and death. Śrī Bhagavān’s teaching encourages a broader perspective on existence, emphasizing that while bodies come and go, the soul’s journey continues unhindered.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān emphasizes the soul’s imperishable and indestructible nature. The soul is beyond the reach of any material force, untouched by the physical elements that can harm or affect the body. This teaching reinforces the understanding that the soul, unlike the body, is not susceptible to external influences or destruction. The imperviousness of the soul to weapons, fire, water, and wind symbolizes its transcendent and eternal essence.

• nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi: The soul cannot be cut or harmed by weapons, illustrating its incorporeal and indestructible nature.
• nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ: Fire cannot burn the soul, signifying that it is beyond the effects of physical destruction.
• na cainaṃ kledayanti āpo: Water cannot wet the soul, highlighting its resistance to external influence.
• na śoṣayati mārutaḥ: Wind cannot dry the soul, underscoring its immunity to all external forces.

Historical anecdotes tell of freedom fighters who, while facing execution, would recite these verses, finding strength in the assurance that their true self could never be harmed.

Key Insight

This verse reveals the eternal and untouchable nature of the soul. Understanding that the soul is impervious to physical harm cultivates a profound sense of detachment and fearlessness. Śrī Bhagavān’s teaching serves as a reminder that our true essence lies beyond the limitations of the physical world, reaffirming the soul’s immortality and unchanging nature.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān emphasizes the imperishable and immutable nature of the soul. He elaborates on its qualities, asserting that the soul cannot be harmed or altered by any physical means. Unlike the body, which is susceptible to external forces and changes, the soul remains unaffected, unchanging, and eternal.

• acchedyo'ayam: The soul cannot be cut, signifying its indivisible and indestructible essence.

• adāhyo'ayam: It cannot be burned, highlighting its immunity to destruction by fire.

• akledyo'śoṣya eva ca: The soul cannot be dissolved by water or dried by air, illustrating its resistance to external elements.

• nityaḥ: Eternal, existing beyond the temporal realm.

• sarvagataḥ: All-pervading, present everywhere and within all beings.

• sthāṇuḥ: Firm and unwavering, not subject to change.

• acalaḥ sanātanaḥ: Immovable and timeless, indicating its perpetual existence.

Unlike the body, which undergoes constant change, the Ātman (soul) is avikāri (unchanging). Tulsidasji expresses this eternal, changeless nature of the Ātman as an aspect of Paramātma, calling for the elimination of vices:

एति वदति तुलसीदास, शंकर सुमन मुनि मन रंजन।
मम ह्रदय कंजनि पास कुरु, कामादि खल दल भंजनम्।

Tulsidas invokes Bhagavan Shankar (Shiva) to reside in his heart and destroy negative qualities such as lust and wickedness.

Dnyaneshwar Maharaj beautifully explains that even the formless can become perceivable:

निराकार देखिले वो मायें

This insight portrays that the boundless and formless essence can be experienced through divine vision.

Bhagavan Adi Shankaracharya, in Nirvāṇa Ṣaṭkam, encapsulates the realization of the self:

न मे मृत्यु शंका न मे जातिभेदः।
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः।
चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ 5 ॥

This verse conveys the realization of the self as eternal consciousness, beyond birth, death, and relationships, embodying pure bliss and the essence of “I am Shiva.”

Key Insight

This verse underscores the soul’s indestructible and timeless nature, in stark contrast to the perishable body. By realizing that the true Self cannot be harmed or altered, one gains detachment from physical fears and anxieties. Śrī Bhagavān’s teaching invites us to look past the transient nature of the physical world and recognize the soul’s enduring essence, fostering resilience and inner peace.

This soul is incapable of being cut, burned by fire, dissolved by water, or dried by air. It is eternal, all-pervading, immovable, constant, and everlasting.

Explanation
In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān emphasizes the imperishable and immutable nature of the soul. He elaborates on its attributes, asserting that the soul cannot be harmed or altered by any physical means. Unlike the body, which is subject to external forces and change, the soul remains unaffected, unchanging, and eternal.

• acchedyo'ayam: The soul cannot be cut, signifying its indivisible and indestructible essence.

• adāhyo'ayam: It cannot be burned, highlighting its immunity to destruction by fire.

• akledyo'śoṣya eva ca: The soul cannot be dissolved by water or dried by air, illustrating its resistance to all external elements.

• nityaḥ: Eternal, existing beyond the confines of time.

• sarvagataḥ: All-pervading, present in all beings and throughout the universe.

• sthāṇuḥ: Steadfast and unyielding, unchangeable in its essence.

• acalaḥ sanātanaḥ: Immovable and timeless, denoting its perpetual and unchanging existence.

Unlike the body, which undergoes constant change and decay, the Ātman (soul) is avikāri (unchanging). Tulsidasji expresses this eternal, immutable nature of the Ātman as an aspect of Paramātma, calling for the removal of vices:

एति वदति तुलसीदास, शंकर सुमन मुनि मन रंजन।
मम ह्रदय कंजनि पास कुरु, कामादि खल दल भंजनम्।

Tulsidas invokes Bhagavan Shankar (Shiva) to reside in his heart and eradicate negative qualities such as lust and wickedness.

Dnyaneshwar Maharaj beautifully illustrates that even the formless can be perceived:

निराकार देखिले वो मायें

This insight suggests that the boundless, formless essence can be experienced through divine realization.

Bhagavān Adi Shankaracharya, in Nirvāṇa Ṣaṭkam, encapsulates the realization of the self:

न मे मृत्यु शंका न मे जातिभेदः।
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः।
चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ 5 ॥

This verse conveys the realization of the self as eternal consciousness, free from birth, death, relationships, and worldly distinctions, embodying pure bliss and the essence of “I am Shiva.”

Key Insight

This verse underscores the indestructible and eternal nature of the soul, in stark contrast to the perishable body. By recognizing that the true Self is beyond physical harm or change, one can cultivate detachment from fears and anxieties related to the body. Śrī Bhagavān’s teaching encourages us to look past the transient nature of physical existence and acknowledge the soul’s enduring essence, fostering inner resilience and peace.

In this verse, Śrī Bhagavān offers Arjuna an alternative way to view the nature of the soul. Even if one were to believe that the soul experiences an ongoing cycle of birth and death, lamenting such a reality is unwarranted. The essence of life encompasses transitions that are inevitable and beyond human control. Whether one sees the soul as eternal or as part of an endless loop of rebirths, understanding the natural order of existence helps transcend grief and maintain inner stability.

• atha cainaṃ nityajātaṃ: Even if one considers the soul to be continuously reborn.
• nityaṃ vā manyase mṛtam: Or believes it to be perpetually dying, cycling through existence.
• tathāpi tvaṃ mahābāho: Even then, O mighty-armed Arjuna, sorrow is not fitting.
• naivaṃ śocitum arhasi: Lamenting such transitions does not align with wisdom.

Key Insight

This verse teaches that regardless of whether one perceives the soul as eternal or bound by cycles of rebirth and death, grieving is not productive. Śrī Bhagavān’s guidance encourages Arjuna—and all spiritual seekers—to accept the inevitable cycles of life with equanimity, recognizing that wisdom lies in embracing life’s changes without attachment or sorrow.

Śrī Bhagavān imparts an essential truth about the cycle of life and death: it is inescapable and applies to all beings. Birth ensures death, and death guarantees rebirth. This verse encourages acceptance of the natural order of existence and helps cultivate a mindset free from undue attachment and grief.

उपजे तें नाशे । नाशलें पुनरपि दिसे ।हें घटिकायंत्र जैसें । परिभ्रमे गा ॥ १५९ ॥ 

ना तरी उदो अस्तु आपैसें । अखंडित होत जात जैसें ।हें जन्ममरण तैसें । अनिवार जगीं ॥

Śrī Bhagavān offers Arjuna a profound insight into the nature of existence. He explains that life is part of an endless cycle: beings arise from an unmanifest state, exist in a perceivable form during life, and return to the unmanifest state after death. This temporary manifestation is just a phase in the broader continuum of existence. Understanding this cycle reveals that lamentation over birth and death is unwarranted, as they are natural processes within the eternal journey of life.

• avyaktādīni bhūtāni: Beings exist in an unmanifest form before their birth, unseen and beyond sensory perception.
• vyaktamadhyāni: During life, they take on a visible, perceivable form.
• avyaktanidhanāni eva: After death, they return to the unmanifest state, ceasing to be seen or perceived.
• tatra kā paridevanā: Since this cycle is inevitable, grieving over it holds no purpose.

The concept of the unmanifest (Indriya Agochar) emphasizes that while something may be imperceptible to our senses, it still exists. Just as infrared light or ultrasonic waves exist outside human perception yet can be detected with instruments, the unmanifest state of beings is real but beyond ordinary sensory reach.

Key Insight

This verse emphasizes the transient nature of life and the continuous cycle of existence. Śrī Bhagavān’s teaching encourages understanding that life and death are natural transitions, not endpoints. By recognizing this, one can rise above grief and develop a deeper acceptance of the impermanence inherent in worldly existence, fostering inner peace and detachment.

The vivechan concludes here with prayers to Gurudeva and Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.

जहॉं कर्म से भाग्य बदलता,
श्रम निष्ठा कल्याणी है ।
त्याग और तप की गाथाऍं,
गाती कवि की वाणी है ।

चंदन है इस देश की माटी,
तपोभूमि हर ग्राम है ।