mātrā-sparśhās tu kaunteya śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ’nityās tans-titikṣhasva bhārata
mātrā-sparśhāḥ — contact of the senses with the sense objects;
tu — indeed;
kaunteya — Arjun, the son of Kunti;
śhīta — winter;
uṣhṇa — summer;
sukha — happiness;
duḥkha — distress;
dāḥ — give;
āgama — come;
apāyinaḥ — go;
anityāḥ — non-permanent;
tān — them;
titikṣhasva — tolerate;
bhārata — descendant of the Bharat
In this verse, Lord Krishna is teaching Arjuna an important life lesson about dealing with happiness and sadness. He compares these feelings to the seasons. Just like winter and summer come and go, so do our good and bad times. They are not permanent; they change over time. This message is very relatable to all of us because we all experience ups and downs in life.
When we think about happiness, it can be a moment when we feel joyful, like celebrating a birthday or scoring a goal in a game. On the other hand, distress might be similar to losing something we love or facing a tough situation at work or in a relationship. Krishna tells Arjuna that just like we don’t get upset that winter is cold or that summer is hot, we shouldn't allow ourselves to be overly upset about the changes in our emotions.
Krishna urges Arjuna (and us) to tolerate these feelings. For example, consider a cold winter morning. Even if it's freezing outside, we still need to get out of bed, go to work, or take a shower. We don’t let the cold stop us from doing what we need to do. Similarly, during the hottest days of summer, we might still have to prepare meals or go outside, even if it feels uncomfortable. We do our duties regardless of the temperatures.
For those who have responsibilities, such as soldiers or warriors like Arjuna, it’s crucial to perform their duties even when it gets tough. Arjuna is in a situation where he must fight against people he cares about. Krishna is reminding him that, despite the distress that comes with fighting against loved ones, he has a duty as a warrior, and he should not shy away from it.
Following the right course of action during tough times helps us grow and elevate ourselves. It’s important to stick to our responsibilities and commitments, even when it’s challenging, because through these experiences we gain knowledge and wisdom. This understanding is what can eventually help us rise above life's illusions and difficulties.
In essence, Krishna is teaching that life has its cycles, and learning to endure the changing emotions and circumstances can help us lead a balanced and purposeful life.