death

The Bhagavad Gita addresses death in several key verses, emphasizing the impermanence of the physical body and the eternal nature of the soul. Krishna teaches that death is a natural part of life and that the soul, or Atman, is not destroyed when the body dies. 

BG 2.11:

"While you speak words of wisdom, you are mourning for that which is not worthy of grief. The wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead". This verse encourages detachment from the physical body and the acceptance of death as a natural process. 

BG 2.13:

"As a person experiences childhood, youth, and old age in the body, similarly, he experiences other births. A wise man is not bewildered by this". This verse emphasizes the understanding that death is simply a transition to another form of existence. 

Key Verses and Themes:

BG 2.20:

"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be". This verse emphasizes the eternal nature of the soul, which is neither born nor dies. 

BG 2.22:

"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones". This illustrates the soul's continued journey through various bodies after death. 

BG 2.23-24:

These verses describe the soul as indestructible and unaffected by the physical body's destruction, emphasizing its eternal nature. 

BG 2.27:

"For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament". This verse highlights the cyclical nature of birth and death and encourages acceptance of this natural process. 

BG 2.27: Death is certain for one who has been born, and rebirth is inevitable for one who has died. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable.

Key Concepts:

The Soul's Impermanence:

The soul is not destroyed when the body dies, but continues its journey through rebirth. 

Transience of the Body:

The body is a temporary vessel for the soul and is subject to birth, death, and decay. 

Acceptance of Death:

Death is a natural part of life and should be accepted without lamentation or attachment to the physical body. 

Duty and Dharma:

Individuals should fulfill their duty without attachment to the results, even if it involves death or loss.  

Bhagavad Gita 15:7 

The embodied souls in this material world are My eternal fragmental parts. But bound by material nature, they are struggling with the six senses including the mind.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 20

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि

नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूय: |

अजो नित्य: शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो

न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे || 20||

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin

nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ

ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo

na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre

na jāyate—is not born; mriyate—dies; vā—or; kadāchit—at any time; na—not; ayam—this; bhūtvā—having once existed; bhavitā—will be; vā—or; na—not; bhūyaḥ—further; ajaḥ—unborn; nityaḥ—eternal; śhāśhvataḥ—immortal; ayam—this; purāṇaḥ—the ancient; na hanyate—is not destroyed; hanyamāne—is destroyed; śharīre—when the body

na jayate mriyate va kadachin

nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah

ajo nityah shashvato ’yam purano

na hanyate hanyamane sharire

Translation

BG 2.20: The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it ever cease to be. The soul is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 22

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय

नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि |

तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा

न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही || 22||

vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya

navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi

tathā śharīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānya

nyāni sanyāti navāni dehī

vāsānsi—garments; jīrṇāni—worn-out; yathā—as; vihāya—sheds; navāni—new; gṛihṇāti—accepts; naraḥ—a person; aparāṇi—others; tathā—likewise; śharīrāṇi—bodies; vihāya—casting off; jirṇāni—worn-out; anyāni—other; sanyāti—enters; navāni—new; dehī—the embodied soul

vasansi jirnani yatha vihaya

navani grihnati naro ’parani

tatha sharirani vihaya jirnanya

nyani sanyati navani dehi

Translation

BG 2.22: As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 23

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावक: |

न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुत: || 23||

nainaṁ chhindanti śhastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ

na chainaṁ kledayantyāpo na śhoṣhayati mārutaḥ

na—not; enam—this soul; chhindanti—shred; śhastrāṇi—weapons; na—nor; enam—this soul; dahati—burns; pāvakaḥ—fire; na—not; cha—and; enam—this soul; kledayanti—moisten; āpaḥ—water; na—nor; śhoṣhayati—dry; mārutaḥ—wind

nainam chhindanti shastrani nainam dahati pavakah

na chainam kledayantyapo na shoshayati marutah

Translation

BG 2.23: Weapons cannot shred the soul, nor can fire burn it. Water cannot wet it, nor can the wind dry it.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 27

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च |

तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि || 27||

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛityur dhruvaṁ janma mṛitasya cha

tasmād aparihārye ’rthe na tvaṁ śhochitum arhasi

jātasya—for one who has been born; hi—for; dhruvaḥ—certain; mṛityuḥ—death; dhruvam—certain; janma—birth; mṛitasya—for the dead; cha—and; tasmāt—therefore; aparihārye arthe—in this inevitable situation; na—not; tvam—you; śhochitum—lament; arhasi—befitting

jatasya hi dhruvo mrityur dhruvam janma mritasya cha

tasmad apariharye ’rthe na tvam shochitum arhasi

Translation

BG 2.27: Death is certain for one who has been born, and rebirth is inevitable for one who has died. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable.

chapter 4 vs 5

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4, Verse 5

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन |

तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप || 5||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha

bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava chārjuna

tānyahaṁ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṁ vettha parantapa

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; bahūni—many; me—of mine; vyatītāni—have passed; janmāni—births; tava—of yours; cha—and; arjuna—Arjun; tāni—them; aham—I; veda—know; sarvāṇi—all; na—not; tvam—you; vettha—know; parantapa—Arjun, the scorcher of foes

shri bhagavan uvacha

bahuni me vyatitani janmani tava charjuna

tanyaham veda sarvani na tvam vettha parantapa

Translation

BG 4.5: The Supreme Lord said: Both you and I have had many births, O Arjun. You have forgotten them, while I remember them all, O Parantapa.

Bhagavad Gita 8.5

Those who relinquish the body while remembering Me at the moment of death will come to Me. There is certainly no doubt about this.

Bhagavad Gita 8.6

Whatever one remembers upon giving up the body at the time of death, O son of Kunti, one attains that state, being always absorbed in such contemplation.

Bhagavad Gita 8.7

Therefore, always remember Me and also do your duty of fighting the war. With mind and intellect surrendered to Me, you will definitely attain Me; of this, there is no doubt.

Bhagavad Gita 8.8

With practice, O Parth, when you constantly engage the mind in remembering Me, the Supreme Divine Personality, without deviating, you will certainly attain Me.

Bhagavad Gita 8.9 – 8.10

God is Omniscient, the most ancient One, the Controller, subtler than the subtlest, the Support of all, and the possessor of an inconceivable divine form; He is brighter than the sun, and beyond all darkness of ignorance. One who at the time of death, with unmoving mind attained by the practice of Yog, fixes the prāṇ (life-airs) between the eyebrows, and steadily remembers the Divine Lord with great devotion, certainly attains Him.

Bhagavad Gita 8.13

One who departs from the body while remembering Me, the Supreme Personality, and chanting the syllable Om, will attain the supreme goal.

Bhagavad Gita 8.14

O Parth, for those yogis who always think of Me with exclusive devotion, I am easily attainable because of their constant absorption in Me.

Bhagavad Gita 8.15

Having attained Me, the great souls are no more subject to rebirth in this world, which is transient and full of misery, because they have attained the highest perfection.

Bhagavad Gita 8.21

That unmanifest dimension is the supreme goal, and upon reaching it, one never returns to this mortal world. That is My Supreme Abode.