Chapter 2 Verse 26
Sānkhya Yog
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्। तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि।।2.26।।
atha chainaṁ nitya-jātaṁ nityaṁ vā manyase mṛitam tathāpi tvaṁ mahā-bāho naivaṁ śhochitum arhasi
Word Meanings
| 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 |
Translation
But even if thou thinkest of It as constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, O mighty-armed one, thou shouldst not grieve.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
Krishna tells Arjuna that even if the soul passes through many births and deaths, grieving is not appropriate. The verse points out that sorrow comes from identifying with what changes (the body, roles, possessions), not with the inner self that remains.
Grief does not help the situation or the person who has gone. Understanding the deeper reality — that life involves change — helps us stay steady and act wisely instead of being overwhelmed by emotion.
This does not mean being cold. It means feeling compassion while keeping a calm mind, so your words and actions are helpful rather than driven by panic or clinging.
Life Application
- When you face loss, pause and breathe. Offer care and complete necessary duties, but avoid getting lost in repeated sadness.
- Practice small reminders of impermanence (short meditation, journaling, or silence) to build calmness in hard moments.
- Support others with compassion, but don’t let your identity or peace depend entirely on things that change.
Reflection Question
Can I meet this loss with compassion and calm instead of letting grief take over?