Ch-2|Meaning of Shlokas 18-23

Meaning of Ślokas 18-23

Śloka 19

Bhagavan SriKrishna tells Arjuna:

He who thinks this soul is a killer,and he who thinks this soul is capable of dying,both of them do not know the truth.They are not true scholars.

The Atma neither kills nor is it killed.Whoever thinks “I am killing” or thinks “I am being killed,” that person is not a Vetta(a knower/wise person).Since the soul cannot kill or be killed,Arjuna’s grief is baseless. 

Krishna is essentially implying,”You are worthy of being a scholar; you have done great penance; you are my disciple.Why are you grieving like an ignorant person?”

Śloka 22

Sri Krishna gives a more relevant analogy,as follows,to explain the nature of the Atman to Arjuna.

Just as a man discards worn-out,torn or dirty clothes and accepts new ones,in the same way the Dehi (the owner of the body/the Soul) discards worn-out bodies and enters into other new ones.

The body gets worn out.It ages,the grip of the senses loosens,the limbs stop working and the skin wrinkles.When the body becomes Jirnam (dilapidated),the soul takes a new one.

The Dehi is the owner.You are the owner of your body,not its servant.The owner uses the body to achieve their goals and spiritual practice.When it breaks down,they get a new one.It is not a big deal.Just as we don’t cry when we throw away torn clothes, we shouldn’t grieve over the changing of bodies.

Śloka 23

Bhagavan Sri Krishna says to Arjuna as – “Weapons cannot cut or split this soul.Fire cannot burn this soul.Water cannot wet or rot this soul.Wind cannot dry or wither this soul.

All these destructive processes happen to the Body,not the Soul.What you thought was “you” (the body) can be destroyed, but the real “You” (the Atma) is safe.”