What is Dehi (Soul)?
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 Verses 29 & 30
Verses 2.29 and 2.30 explained
Introduction
Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Krishna and Arjun. This dialogue begins just before the war of Mahabharata is about to begin. On seeing his family in opposition, Arjun is gripped with fear and confusion and wants to run away, but Krishna convinces him to fight and tells Arjun why he today raise his weapons to kill his brothers and relatives in this war.
Bhagavad Gits teaches us how to live life!
The core message of the Bhagavad Gita is considered very powerful for it can fundamentally transform the way you live your life. Bhagavad Gita is also called a summary of Vendantic Knowledge or simply ancient Knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita is crystallized form of the Hindu thought.
Bhagavad Gita is 700 verses long, spread across 18 chapters. Here we will understand Verses 29 & 30 of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita.
Verse 2.29
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन
माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्य: |
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्य: शृ्णोति
श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् || 29||
ashcharya-vat pashyati kashchid enan
ashcharya-vad vadati tathaiva chanyaḥ
ashcharya-vach chainam anyah shrinoti
shrutvapyenam veda na chaiva kashchit
Translation:
Some perceive “it” with surprise.
Some speak about “it” with surprise.
Some listen about “it” with surprise.
But despite having heard about “it”, some never understand “it”.
Verse 2.30
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत |
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि || 30||
dehi nityam avadhyo ayam dehe sarvasya bharata
tasmat sarvani bhutani na tvam shochitum arhasi
Translation
Hey Arjun (Bhart vanshi)
“Dehi” or the soul which always resides within this body can’t be killed. This is true for all living beings. Hence there is no point in grieving over someone’s death.
Commentary:
Krishna tells Arjun about people’s reactions toward the topic of the Soul.
Krishna says that some people look at the concept of the Soul itself with surprise. This surprise is evident when they hear something about Soul or when they happen to speak on this topic with others. Even when people hear about the Soul from someone with knowledge, they tend not to understand it.
This surprise is due to the lack of knowledge about the truth of the Universe.
People live their life never thinking of death. They forget that they too shall die one day. This makes them think that time is abundant and thus they don’t value their time and their health too much.
And there are those who do think about Death but think that life is a like a race which shall happen only once. And the ones who are victorious will have great afterlives. Many religions on this earth profess that life is once. And that one’s deeds will dictate the quality of his afterlife.
This thought is dangerous. Even worse than the thought where one ignores death, for in an attempt to get to heaven people narrow their focus and do deeds that are considered as right and good as per their religion. This often comes at expense of deeds that really make them happy.
Such people are so busy building for their afterlife that they forget living this life that is ticking away fast.
When one is aware of the fact that this life is but an episode in the journey of liberation, when one is aware that the Soul existed even before, then one realises that this life is a continuation of a journey.
In light of this awareness, the darkness of their ignorance goes away. They then live more meaningfully, do things that make them happy, and at all times being aware that their time in this episode is limited.
Their focus shifts from seeking validation of the world, and building for their afterlife, to living life completely. This leads them to seek knowledge and what one seeks is what one gets. This knowledge remains with the Soul and defines their journey in the next life if there is one for them.
For the ones who truly understand the meaning of life, drop all desires and attain liberation!
Krishna is thus telling Arjun that the Soul can’t be killed. This is true for all living beings. Thus there is no reason to mourn someone’s death.
Death is inevitable and the Soul is eternal!
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