Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta Shlok Blog -66
Shlok-19
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम् । उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ॥ 2-19 ||
English Transcription
Ya Anam Vetti Hantaaram Yashchainam Manyate Hatam | Ubho Tau Na Vijaaneeto Naayam Hanti Na Hanyate || 2-19 ||
Hindi Translation
Jo manushya is avinaashi shariri ko maarne wala maanta hai, or jo manushya isko mara maanta hai, ve dono hi isko nahin jaante kyunki yeh na marta hai or na hi maara jata hai.
English Translation
He who thinks that the embodied self is the slayer, and he who imagines it is slain - neither of these understand. It does not slay, nor is it slain.
Meaning
In the previous Shlok, we saw how Shri Krishna explained in detail about immortality, its need, features, and merits, and how it is perceived as normal by the people. In this Shlok, we will be seeing how mortality is explained a little more to give a proper perspective to everyone.
Having said that the body wouldn’t always be there, all those who believe that body will not be there always is not exactly the right thought because even if the body is not immortal and it will die sometime, it is not completely useless because, without the body, the soul is of no use.
The soul needs an activator or an action taker and it is impossible without a doer to get the work done for anyone. Thus without an exterior body, the soul is not of any use.
All those who feel the body is dead or the soul is dead are all wrong. The soul never dies and it never is left aloof without a body to fulfill its work. So no one has the full image of what to do and what not to do, what is true and what is not. So there is no point in stressing out on wrong things, rather, focusing only on the right makes much more sense.
There is no reason for any changes or cripples in this process because it is sure to have certain changes in the due process but only things that are hampering the growth process are believed to be changing and the rest of everything remains the same as always.
So when not everyone knows the true story, and yet there is no one who knows the full story of anything, then there is no use of everyone using their own brains in these matters and making matters worse uselessly.
The maker and the destroyer do not know everything. The liver and life don't know everything. The preserver and the creators are also not completely aware. The question can be, when no one knows, who shall know what is good and for the better? The answer is very simple. No one knows and yet everyone is using their brains, training, ethics, calculations, and intuitions to follow the right path and then bear the punishments for the sins committed.
Conclusion
The soul never gets born or dies. There are a lot of things that can be questioned or put in favor or against and yet, the body may be born, and it might die, but the soul stays alive for getting the work done and until it is not done, it never returns to Lord Vishnu for salvation to be sent again after having finished the time period of Salvation. So soul exists since Lord Vishnu is existing and will exist till Lord Vishnu exists. Now anyone who says they know everything about life and death is wrong and anyone who thinks they do not know everything is also wrong. There are a lot of things everyone can know or think that they know and yet have different results each time. So thinking what you think might be true or not thinking about it but just stressing invariably makes no sense at all. Everyone who needs to work should stop thinking and start working faster than ever.
That’s it for Shlok-19, chapter-2. We’ll see you tomorrow with Shlok-20, Chapter-2 and till then, enjoy.
