atha chainaṁ nitya-jātaṁ nityaṁ vā manyase mṛitam
tathāpi tvaṁ mahā-bāho naivaṁ śhochitum arhasi
atha — if, however;
cha — and;
enam — this soul;
nitya-jātam — taking constant birth;
nityam — always;
vā — or;
manyase — you think;
mṛitam — dead;
tathā api — even then;
tvam — you;
mahā-bāho — mighty-armed one, Arjun;
na — not;
evam — like this;
śhochitum — grieve;
arhasi — befitting
In this verse, Lord Krishna talks directly to Arjuna, who is feeling a lot of pain and sorrow about the idea of fighting in battle, where he might have to face his friends and relatives. Krishna tells Arjuna that, even if you think of the soul as something that is born and dies over and over again, there's still no reason to be sad.
To unpack this a bit more, there are some thinkers and philosophers, like certain Buddhists and material scientists, who argue that life is not something separate from the physical body. They believe that the soul only exists when the body has certain elements arranged in a specific way. In simpler terms, they say that life and the soul come about through a combination of our physical makeup and the interactions of elements within the body, sort of like how a cake is made when you mix specific ingredients together.
Krishna's point here is that even if you see the soul as something that goes through a cycle of being born and dying, you shouldn't be upset about it. Feeling grief over death or loss may not be useful. Instead, if you understand that there is a bigger picture – that the soul continues on in its journey no matter what happens to the physical body – it should bring you a sense of peace rather than sorrow.
Krishna wants Arjuna to realize that grief is not suitable for someone who understands this cycle of life and death. The wise and knowledgeable individuals see beyond the pain of loss and understand that the soul is eternal. Therefore, embracing this knowledge allows one to act without being weighed down by fear or sorrow.
In everyday situations, think of it like this: When you lose a loved one, the sadness is natural. But if you believe they still exist in some form or continue their journey in a different way, it can help ease that pain. Krishna is trying to bring Arjuna to this understanding so that he can do his duty without being overwhelmed by grief.