ṛiṣhibhir bahudhā gītaṁ chhandobhir vividhaiḥ pṛithak
brahma-sūtra-padaiśh chaiva hetumadbhir viniśhchitaiḥ
ṛiṣhibhiḥ — by great sages;
bahudhā — in manifold ways;
gītam — sung;
chhandobhiḥ — in Vedic hymns;
vividhaiḥ — various;
pṛithak — variously;
brahma-sūtra — the Brahma Sūtra;
padaiḥ — by the hymns;
cha — and;
eva — especially;
hetu-madbhiḥ — with logic;
viniśhchitaiḥ — conclusive evidence
In this verse, Krishna highlights that understanding the relationship between our body, mind, and the true self (the soul) is not something new or his own invention. Instead, many wise and learned people, known as sages, have explained these ideas in various sacred texts, especially in something called the Vedanta-sutra, which is respected by many.
Krishna is addressing a complex topic that talks about how we, as individual souls, interact with the greater presence known as the Supersoul, which can be thought of as a universal spirit that is aware of everything. To support what he is saying, Krishna points to the opinions of different sages and scriptures, showing that his teachings are based on established wisdom among great thinkers.
Among those wise people is Vyasadeva, who wrote the Vedanta-sutra. He focused on the relationship between our individual soul and the Supersoul, clarifying that while we may seem different while living in our bodies, we are all fundamentally spiritual beings. Vyasadeva’s father, another respected sage named Parasara, talks about how we all share this spiritual essence, even though we experience life through our material bodies. He emphasized that every living entity—each person, animal, or plant—holds an eternal spiritual identity despite our material existence.
Currently, we live in a world where our experiences can vary greatly. Some of us may lead more successful, fulfilling lives while others struggle. Krishna points out that these differences are influenced by our past actions (karma) and the three qualities of nature—goodness, passion, and ignorance. Depending on which of these qualities are strongest in us, we often find ourselves at different levels of experience and understanding. While some beings may represent higher qualities, others may embody lower ones due to ignorance of their true nature, leading to a range of experiences across all forms of life.
In contrast to us, the Supersoul remains unchanged and is not affected by these qualities. It exists in a higher state, above the struggles we face in life. The original texts of the Vedas also talk about the difference between the individual soul, the Supersoul, and the physical body. For example, in the Katha Upanishad, this distinction is mentioned clearly, explaining how even though we live in a material body, there is a higher reality that connects us all. Essentially, Krishna's message in this verse encourages us to look beyond the physical and understand the deeper, spiritual nature of existence.