Bhagavad Gita · Sankhya YogaChapter 2, Shloka 26 (2.26)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्
तथाऽपि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि
॥ 2.26 ॥
atha cainaṃ nityajātaṃ nityaṃ vā manyase mṛtam
tathā'pi tvaṃ mahābāho naivaṃ śocitumarhasi
Translation
"And even if you think of it as constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, O mighty-armed one, you should not grieve like this."
Interpretation
A second line of argument. A good teacher does not only present his own position — he also argues by granting the disciple's possible doubt. Krishna says: "Even if you do not accept the self as eternal — even if you believe that it is born and dies with every body — even then grief is not fitting." Why? In the next shloka: for whatever is born, death is certain.
Two readings:
- Shankaracharya: Even if, following popular belief, you think of the self as "born" whenever a body comes into being and "dead" whenever a body perishes — even then you should not grieve, because the death of what is born and the birth of what dies are inevitable.
- Ramanuja: Even if you take the body itself to be the self (and do not accept a self distinct from the body) — even then such excessive grief is not fitting, because the birth and destruction of the changing body are inevitable.
"Mahābāho" — mighty-armed. Krishna again reminds Arjuna of his strength — you are a mighty warrior; such grief does not become you.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.