Chapter 7:Sankhya Yoga (2)

VERSE 11:

"The Blessed Lord said: You have grieved for those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead."

Explanation:

Krishna responds to Arjuna's sorrow by pointing out that his grief is misplaced. He acknowledges Arjuna's words as wise but advises him that the truly wise do not grieve for either the living or the dead, understanding the eternal nature of the soul.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse encourages individuals to reflect on the impermanence of physical existence and the eternal nature of the soul. In daily life, it prompts a shift in perspective toward accepting the cycles of life and death, fostering resilience, and focusing on spiritual growth and understanding.

VERSE 12:

"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be."

Explanation:

Krishna asserts the eternal existence of the soul, stating that neither he, Arjuna, nor the assembled kings (referring to all beings) have ever not existed nor will cease to exist in the future. This emphasizes the soul's continuity beyond physical birth and death.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse invites individuals to contemplate their eternal nature beyond the transient physical body. In daily life, it encourages a deeper understanding of one's spiritual essence, fostering a sense of interconnectedness with all beings and transcending fear of mortality.

VERSE 13:

"Just as the boyhood, youth, and old age come to the embodied soul in this body, so too the attaining of another body. The wise man is not deluded by this."

Explanation:

Krishna explains the natural progression of the soul through different stages of life—from childhood to youth, then old age—and similarly, the soul transitions to another body after death. The wise person understands this eternal cycle and is not confused by it.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse encourages acceptance of the natural cycle of life, including aging and death, as part of the soul's journey. In daily life, it promotes mindfulness of the transient nature of physical existence, fostering detachment from material attachments and a focus on spiritual evolution.

VERSE 14:

"O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and the sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress. These are non-permanent, and come and go, O Arjuna. Bear them patiently."

Explanation:

Krishna describes how the interaction between the senses and external objects creates temporary experiences of pleasure and pain, which are impermanent and fleeting. He advises Arjuna to endure these experiences with patience.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse highlights the transient nature of sensory experiences and emotions. In daily life, it encourages cultivating emotional resilience, maintaining inner stability amidst life's ups and downs, and seeking lasting happiness beyond fleeting sensory gratification.

VERSE 15:

"O best of men, he who is not disturbed by these—happiness and distress, and is steady in both, is certainly eligible for liberation, O beloved of Bharata."

Explanation:

Krishna declares that one who remains undisturbed by fluctuating experiences of happiness and distress, maintaining equanimity and inner steadiness, is qualified for spiritual liberation (moksha). He addresses Arjuna as the beloved descendant of Bharata (another name for the Kuru dynasty).

Application in Daily Life:

This verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional balance and inner peace amidst life's challenges and pleasures. In daily life, it encourages practicing mindfulness, cultivating resilience, and seeking spiritual growth through detachment from transient worldly fluctuations.

VERSE 16:

"Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance, and of the existent there is no cessation. This seers have concluded by studying the nature of both."

Explanation:

Krishna explains the wisdom of seers (wise beings) who understand that what is real (the soul) is eternal and does not cease to exist, whereas what is unreal (the temporary forms and manifestations) has no lasting endurance. This understanding comes from deep contemplation and study of reality.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse invites individuals to contemplate the impermanence of material forms and the eternal nature of the soul. In daily life, it encourages seeking deeper understanding beyond appearances, cultivating awareness of spiritual truths, and embracing inner transformation for enduring fulfillment.

VERSE 17:

"Know that to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded. No one can destroy the imperishable soul."

Explanation:

Krishna asserts the indestructibility of the soul (atman), which pervades and sustains all existence. He emphasizes that the eternal soul cannot be destroyed by any physical or external force.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse inspires confidence in the enduring nature of the soul amidst life's challenges and uncertainties. In daily life, it encourages individuals to cultivate inner strength, resilience, and spiritual awareness, knowing that the essence of their being is indestructible and transcendent.

VERSE 18:

"These bodies of the embodied soul, which is eternal, indestructible, and immeasurable, are said to belong to the soul. Therefore, O Arjuna, fight!"

Explanation:

Krishna teaches Arjuna that the physical bodies of living beings are temporary and belong to the eternal, indestructible soul. He urges Arjuna to fulfill his duty as a warrior without attachment to the temporary forms, knowing the true nature of the soul.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse emphasizes the importance of fulfilling responsibilities and duties without attachment to transient outcomes or material forms. In daily life, it encourages individuals to act with integrity, dedication, and detachment from ego-driven desires, focusing on service and spiritual growth.

VERSE 19:

"Anyone who thinks that the soul kills or that it is killed does not understand. It does not kill, nor is it killed."

Explanation:

Krishna clarifies the nature of the soul (atman), emphasizing that it is neither the doer of killing nor the receiver of death. The soul is eternal and beyond destruction; it transcends the physical body and its actions.

Application in Daily Life:

This verse encourages individuals to transcend the fear of death and understand the eternal nature of the soul. In daily life, it promotes a deeper perspective on mortality, fostering inner peace, and guiding actions with wisdom and detachment.

VERSE 20:

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. It has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain."

Explanation:

Krishna elaborates on the eternal nature of the soul, stating that it is beyond the concepts of birth and death. The soul has always existed, exists currently, and will continue to exist forever. Even when the physical body dies, the soul remains untouched and eternal..

Application in Daily Life:

This profound verse teaches individuals about the timeless existence of the soul. In daily life, it encourages reflection on the essence of one's being beyond the physical form, cultivating a sense of spiritual identity, and guiding actions with awareness of the eternal nature of the soul.