Shloka 16. Chapter 2

Explore the profound wisdom of Bhagavad Gita 2.16 highlighting the eternal vs. the temporary and the path to true knowledge.

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः। 

उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः॥

nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ 

ubhayorapi dṛṣṭo'ntastvanayostattvadarśibhiḥ

Meaning 

'The unreal has no existence; the real never ceases to be. The seers of truth have concluded the distinction between these two.'

Context:

This verse is part of the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna is imparting knowledge to Arjuna, who is in a state of confusion and moral dilemma about fighting in the Kurukshetra war. Krishna is explaining the nature of reality, distinguishing between the temporary (unreal) and the eternal (real).

Detailed Explanation:

• 'The unreal has no existence': Things that are temporary and changeable do not have a permanent state.
• 'The real never ceases to be': The eternal truth remains constant and unchangeable.
• 'The seers of truth have concluded the distinction between these two': Wise individuals have recognized the eternal nature of truth and the fleeting nature of the unreal.

Today's Context

Consider a person named Neha, who is deeply engaged in her spiritual journey. She often finds herself troubled by the temporary nature of worldly experiences – happiness, sorrow, success, failure. These fluctuations make her question the purpose and meaning of life.

One day, while meditating, Neha recalls this shloka from the Bhagavad Gita. She reflects on the message that the unreal (asat) has no true existence and the real (sat) never ceases to be. This realization brings her a profound sense of peace.

Neha begins to see that her emotions and experiences are like waves on the surface of the ocean – temporary and ever-changing. The deeper truth, however, is the ocean itself – vast, deep, and unchanging. She understands that her true self is not defined by the fleeting waves of experience but by the eternal essence within her.

This philosophical understanding helps Neha detach from the ups and downs of life. She no longer gets overly excited by success or disheartened by failure. Instead, she remains centered, focusing on her inner growth and spiritual practices, recognizing the eternal truth within her.

This shloka thus guides us to look beyond the temporary and superficial aspects of life and connect with the deeper, unchanging reality. It teaches us to maintain equanimity, recognizing the eternal nature of our true self amidst the changing circumstances of life.

Highlights from Traditional commentaries

Sri Abhinavagupta:

• Distinction between Real and Unreal: Emphasizes that the unreal (asat) cannot become real because its nature is non-existent, just as something that is colorless cannot become colored. The commentary suggests that inherent nature cannot be changed.
• Swabhava (Inherent Nature): States that the inherent nature of things, like heat in fire, cannot be altered.

Sri Jayatritha:

• Nature of Reality: Discusses the philosophical underpinning that the soul (Purusha) and matter (Prakriti) are eternal and unchangeable.
• Prakriti and Purusha: Suggests that both are eternal, reflecting a dualistic interpretation.

Sri Madhusudan Saraswati:

• Illusion of Duality: Emphasizes that the entire dualistic world is a projection (kalpana) on the Self, and upon realization, the world’s duality is understood to be unreal.
• Self and Non-Self: Highlights that temporary conditions like heat and cold are imposed on the Self and are not part of its true nature.

Sri Purushottamji:

• Emphasis on the Soul's Immortality: Points out that while temporary worldly experiences like joy and sorrow come and go, the soul remains unaffected and eternal.
• Spiritual Endurance: Encourages enduring temporary experiences with the understanding of the eternal nature of the Self.

Sri Sridhara Swami:

• Tatva Darshis (Seers of Truth): Stresses the role of seers who perceive the truth of the eternal (sat) and the non-eternal (asat).
• Viveka (Discrimination): Urges the practitioner to discriminate between the temporary and eternal to maintain equanimity.

Sri Vedantadeshikacharya Venkatanatha:

• Supreme Brahman: Discusses the nature of Brahman as the only true reality, with the material world being an illusion.
• Upadhi (Limiting Conditions): Explains that the limiting conditions (upadhis) of the body do not affect the soul’s eternal nature.

Sri Anandgiri:

• Nature of Existence and Non-Existence: Explores the philosophical aspects of existence (sat) and non-existence (asat), asserting that true knowledge reveals the eternal nature of the Self.
• Tattva Darshana: Highlights the importance of true vision (tattva darshana) to understand the real nature of things.

Sri Dhanpati:

• Mithyatva (Illusoriness): Argues that all temporary phenomena are ultimately illusory, like the silver seen in a shell.
• Realization and Liberation: Suggests that realizing the illusory nature of the world leads to liberation (moksha).

Sri Madhavacharya:

• Sat and Asat in Practical Terms: Offers a practical interpretation, stating that material objects (like the body) do not have true existence (sat) and are subject to change.
• Bhagavata Purana: Cites the Bhagavata Purana to support the view that the physical world is temporary and illusory.

Sri Neelkanth:

• Avidya (Ignorance): Focuses on the role of ignorance in perceiving the temporary as real and the need for knowledge to dispel this illusion.
• Sushupti (Deep Sleep State): Uses the deep sleep state as an analogy to explain the eternal nature of the Self which remains unaffected by temporary states.

Sri Ramanuja:

• Dual Nature: Emphasizes the dual nature of reality, with the body being temporary and the soul being eternal.
• Role of Tattva Darshis: Highlights the role of those who have realized the truth (tattva darshis) in understanding and teaching the nature of reality.

Sri Vallabhacharya:

• Non-dual Reality: Stresses the non-dual nature of the ultimate reality, where the soul remains unaffected by the transient nature of the body.
• Shruti and Smriti: Refers to scriptural authority to support the view that the eternal soul is distinct from the temporary material world.

Additional Insights:

1. Eternal vs. Temporary: All commentaries emphasize the distinction between the eternal (soul) and the temporary (body and material experiences).
2. Illusory Nature: Several interpretations (like Madhusudan Saraswati and Dhanpati) highlight the illusory nature of the world and the importance of realizing this for spiritual liberation.
3. Role of Knowledge: Realization of the truth through knowledge (jnana) and vision (tattva darshana) is a common theme, as seen in the explanations by Vedantadeshikacharya, Anandgiri, and others.
4. Scriptural Support: Many interpretations reference the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Upanishads to support their views on the eternal nature of the soul and the temporary nature of the material world.

These additional points provide a deeper understanding of the philosophical underpinnings and emphasize the transformative power of knowledge in distinguishing between the temporary and the eternal.

Knowledge Bank

Where Mahabharata war happened

Mahabharata war happened on the battlefield of Kurukshetra which is in the present-day Haryana state of India.

How long can someone stay in Swargaloka?

According to Mahabharata 3.191, the duration of the stay in Swargaloka depends on the quantum of good deeds the person has done on earth. When people on earth no longer remember the good deeds the person has done, he is sent out of Swargaloka.