Shloka 20. Chapter 2

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूय:।
अजो नित्य: शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato'yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

Meaning

The soul is neither born nor does it die at any time. It has never come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. The soul is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain.

Context and Explanation

This shloka from the Bhagavad Gita is a part of Lord Krishna's discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Arjuna, distressed by the prospect of killing his relatives and teachers, is reluctant to fight. Krishna explains the nature of the soul to alleviate Arjuna's sorrow and to encourage him to perform his duty as a warrior. The soul, Krishna explains, is immortal and eternal, unaffected by the physical death of the body. This knowledge aims to instill courage and detachment in Arjuna, urging him to fulfill his dharma as a warrior without being attached to the outcomes.

In this verse, Krishna conveys profound spiritual wisdom. The soul, or Atman, is distinct from the physical body. The body undergoes birth, growth, decay, and eventually death, but the soul remains unaffected by these changes. It is eternal, timeless, and beyond the cycle of birth and death. This teaching emphasizes the importance of understanding the true nature of our existence beyond the physical form.

Today's context

Consider a young professional named Priya who faces immense pressure at work. She is stressed about meeting deadlines, worried about job security, and anxious about her future. One day, her mentor shares with her the wisdom from this shloka, explaining the concept of the eternal soul. Priya realizes that her true self is not her job, her achievements, or her failures, but something far more profound and unchanging.

This realization brings Priya immense peace. She learns to approach her work with dedication but without being overly attached to the outcomes. She starts seeing challenges as opportunities for growth, knowing that her inner self remains untouched by external successes or failures. This shift in perspective helps her navigate her professional life with greater resilience and equanimity.

Bhagavad Gita provides  moral and ethical guidance, helping us navigate life's challenges based on ancient wisdom. The shloka provides moral and ethical guidance by emphasizing the eternal nature of the soul, encouraging individuals to act with detachment and focus on their duties without being overwhelmed by fear or anxiety. Understanding such verses helps us connect with their cultural roots and fosters a sense of identity and belonging. It reinforces the belief in the continuity of the soul and the importance of performing one's duties.

The verse delves into deep philosophical themes, offering insights into the nature of existence and the eternal aspect of the soul. It encourages contemplation on the purpose of life beyond the physical realm. The teaching that the soul is eternal provides immense emotional comfort, reassuring individuals that the essence of their being is untouched by physical demise or worldly challenges. Studying this shloka enriches knowledge about our  traditions, beliefs, and the profound philosophical underpinnings of the Bhagavad Gita. It serves as a valuable educational tool for understanding the deeper aspects of life and existence.

Highlights from Traditional Commentaries

Sri Abhinavagupta's Commentary

Abhinavagupta emphasizes that the ignorance of viewing the soul as the doer or the subject of actions like killing leads to bondage. This aligns with the idea that understanding the true nature of the soul as non-doer and eternal frees one from such bondage.

Sri Jayatritha's Commentary

Jayatritha provides a nuanced explanation, stating that the soul's nature of not being born or dying means it never undergoes creation or destruction. He elaborates that even in esoteric states or divine perceptions, the soul maintains its eternal and unchanging nature. This reinforces the philosophical understanding that the soul's eternal nature transcends all physical and metaphysical changes.

Sri Madhusudan Saraswati's Commentary

Madhusudan Saraswati discusses the six types of transformations (birth, existence, growth, transformation, decay, and death) and denies their applicability to the soul. He emphasizes that the soul's unchanging nature makes it immune to these transformations, which are characteristics of the physical body. This detailed analysis helps in understanding the distinction between the physical body and the eternal soul.

Sri Ramanuja's Commentary

Ramanuja explains that the soul, being eternal and unchanging, does not undergo birth or death even in different cosmic cycles (kalpas). He clarifies that the soul's eternal nature is consistent across all states of existence, providing a basis for understanding its timelessness and constancy.

Sri Shankaracharya's Commentary

Shankaracharya highlights that the soul does not undergo any changes associated with birth or death, making it eternal. He addresses potential misconceptions by explaining that these concepts do not apply to the soul, which is beyond all forms of physical transformation. This underscores the soul's immutable and permanent nature.

Sri Sridhara Swami's Commentary

Sridhara Swami discusses the soul's immunity to all six types of bodily transformations, emphasizing its permanence. He explains that the soul's eternal nature makes it free from birth, growth, and decay, reinforcing the idea of its unchanging essence.

Sri Vallabhacharya's Commentary

Vallabhacharya connects the verse to Vedic mantras, showing how it aligns with ancient wisdom about the soul's eternal nature. He elaborates on the soul's immunity to physical transformations, making a clear distinction between the eternal soul and the temporary physical body.

Sri Purushottamji's Commentary

Purushottamji emphasizes the soul's role in creation and its eternal nature. He explains that the soul's purpose is to serve the divine, and this service remains constant and unchanging, reinforcing its eternal and immutable essence.

Knowledge Bank

What is the meaning of Manishada?

Manishada literally means - Don’t you, hunter! In this shloka at the beginning of Ramayana, Valmiki is reprimanding a hunter who shot an arrow at a pair of mating birds and killed one among them. He cursed the hunter to face problems in his life.

Parents of Brihaspati

Brihaspati's father is Angiras and his mother is Vasuda. Angiras is one among the Saptarshis.