soul

VERSE 29

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेनम्

आश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः |

आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः श्रृणोति

श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद चैव कश्चित् || 29 ||

ascaryavat pasyati kascid enam

ascaryavad vadati tathaiva canyah |

ascaryavac chainam anyah srnoti

srutvapyenam veda na caiva kascit || 29 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
आश्चर्यवत् (ascaryavat)
As wonderful or astonishing
पश्यति (pasyati)
Sees
कश्चित् (kascit)
Someone
एनम् (enam)
This (soul)
आश्चर्यवत् (ascaryavat)
As wonderful
वदति (vadati)
Speaks about
तथा (tatha)
Likewise
एव (eva)
Certainly
चान्यः (canyah)
Another
आश्चर्यवत् (ascaryavat)
As wonderful
च (cha)
And
एनम् (enam)
This (soul)
अन्यः (anyah)
Another person
श्रृणोति (srnoti)
Hears about
श्रुत्वा (srutva)
Having heard
अपि (api)
Even
एनम् (enam)
This (soul)
वेद (veda)
Understands
न (na)
Not
चैव (caeva)
Indeed
कश्चित् (kascit)
Anyone

Translation

            “Some understand this as the soul, some talk about this as the soul, some hear this as the soul, but even after hearing this, no one truly knows this.”

Context of the Verse

            From how Krishna describes the nature of the soul, why are most people unable to understand it?

Key Teachings in This Verse

            The Soul is a Mystery; as many philosophers, yogis, and seekers as they may be, the soul is what eludes them the most.

            Few recognize its reality; most people marvel at the soul, discuss it, listen to spiritual teachings about it, but few have any notion of its reality.

            Encouragement for Arjuna; through this wisdom, Krishna encourages Arjuna to rise above his confusion.

Relevance to Arjuna

            Arjuna is told that this is a normal doubt, as the soul is a great mystery. Yet, Krishna tells Arjuna to acknowledge the truth and carry out his duty without being entangled in materialistic sentiments.

Explanation

            The way the little child who is busy with his little toys will never understand what the government is for, what economic policies are, and so many advanced concepts. So there are people who are very much included in worldly joy. Children are crying for the toy car and the man with education tells you to ship a big car; in reality there is no difference. What is the difference? A car is big or small. Both are made of matter, state, and material ingredients. So any appetite for us is nothing more than childish.

            When a kid realizes that his/her favourite character dies in the movie, he is really sad. This life is nothing different! If we cry over movie characters seeing their death then why do we also cry if we see death in this world. Soul has played a part for a specific time. Such situations and such behaviour are not expected from knowledgeable and educated people. If you have any material desire, I want a big house, I want a car, I want so-called success or so-called people; actually, this is only ignorance. It is childish.

            Just as a child cannot expect to understand higher subject matters, how can people who are attached to the material platform understand souls? They cannot expect to have a perfect understanding of souls. They cannot tell the difference between soul and super soul.

            That is why the Vedas say that God is running the entire creation: ‘Nitya Nityam, Chaitanya Chaitanya Nam Chantor Nieto Goham’ There are 2 souls in the ‘Gohayam’ in the heart: Artman Parmatma. So if they are able to understand the time solely different from the body at all they think, ‘I am only Parmatma I am God,’ and some philosophers say, ‘You are God’; they don’t understand that they are God. Here it is not advisable as per the Bhagavad Gita ‘Nithya Nithyananda Nithyananda’ plural infinitesimal living entities will continue and all of their desires will be provided by the ‘Nityaha’ one infinite source. Lord Krishna has stated that the soul cannot be severed. It cannot be broken. So this is not that from one soul, little souls have arisen. It will merge, it will become God, or that you are God. So, all of these are misunderstandings. You are born due to the lust of desires whether to enjoy the material world or escape from the material world and get liberation. Singular form, both are just different formats of material desires. So, when a man wants to satisfy the Lord, at that time he can know what spiritual life is in a perfect way. And so Krishna is saying here that others cannot understand the soul even after hearing much.

VERSE 30

देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत |

तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि || 30 ||

dehi nityam avadhyoyam dehe sarvasya bharata |

tasmat sarvani bhutani na tavam socitum arhasi || 30 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
देही (dehi)
The embodied soul
नित्यम् (nityam)
Always
अवध्यः (avadhyah)
Indestructible
अयम् (ayam)
This (soul)
देहे (dehe)
In the body
सर्वस्य (sarvasya)
Of all beings
भारत (bharata)
O descendant of Bharata (Arjuna)
तस्मात् (tasmat)
Therefore
सर्वाणि (sarvani)
All
भूतानि (bhutani)
Living entities
न (na)
Not
त्वम् (tvam)
You
शोचितुम् (socitum)
To grieve
अर्हसि (arhasi)
You should

Translation

            “The soul dwelling in the body of all creatures, O Arjuna, is indestructible. So, do not grieve for any living being.”

Context of the Verse

            In this section Krishna ends his exposition on the nature of the soul by re-emphasizing its eternal and incorruptible nature.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            The body dies, but the soul is immortal; the physical body may perish, but the soul is invulnerable to destruction.

            This is true for every being; the soul is immortal for every being.

            There is no reason to grieve; as what dies is merely the physical body, it is not a cause for mourning; life changes are inevitable.

Relevance to Arjuna

            Krishna explains to Arjuna that he should not grieve for those he will find himself up against in battle. They may perish in body, but their souls are untouched. Arjuna must do what is right, and that is what is right, may he forget about the sadness.

Explanation

            At least Lord Krishna did give both arguments, if any. You are not lamenting though, but you are very thoughtful. Casualization is the basis of everything; so who cares, if chemicals are lost? And if you know, you are wise, you know the eternal soul again, who you are lamenting.

            But he is God, so he has to give the right knowledge about the soul, he explains. Let the conclusion be understood, he that dwelleth in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Deham is the body. Dehue means a person who lives in the body. The one who dwells in the body cannot be slain. This is a great revelation. And this knowledge could very much fascinate a person. Oh i am eternal. And who was I in my first life? What will I be in the next life? We all understand. Our next body shall be given by Nature itself. But we also know that nature operates solely according to laws. As such what the hell are those laws that govern my next body?

            Now everyone is so conscious about which school I should take admission in, which college I should go to, which business I should start, and which technology boom is coming? So follow me else I will be out of business. We will cross our own deck; it means preparation for the next life.

            This is a very relevant and powerful thing, just the beginning of the knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. Realize that we are eternal.

            So Arjuna was making all these excuses not to fight. First of all, it was Arjuna who was saying, I do not think anything good can happen. It is a great tragedy that causes us great sorrow. Hence Krishna explains that the soul is different from this body and we need not cry for it. Again, Arjuna gave another argument for not fighting.

            He’s misinforming this which is contrary to my duty against Dharma. That is where Krishna is now going to argue with Arjuna. How it is because of dharma and not against dharma in the sense that fighting with him is his duty and he should not leave his duty.

Scroll to Top