Chapter 2 Verse 28
Sānkhya Yog
अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत। अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना।।2.28।।
avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyakta-madhyāni bhārata avyakta-nidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā
Word Meanings
| avyakta-ādīni | unmanifest before birth |
| bhūtāni | created beings |
| vyakta | manifest |
| madhyāni | in the middle |
| bhārata | Arjun, scion of Bharat |
| avyakta | unmanifest |
| nidhanāni | on death |
| eva | indeed |
| tatra | therefore |
| kā | why |
| paridevanā | grieve |
Translation
Beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their middle state, O Arjuna, and unmanifest again in their end. What is there to grieve about?
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
Life is a cycle: before birth we are unmanifest, during life we are manifest, and after death we return to the unmanifest. The verse points out that this pattern is natural and universal.
Grief often comes from treating the temporary form (body, roles, possessions) as the whole of who we are. If we see our deeper self as continuing beyond these forms, fear and sorrow lose their tight hold.
This teaching asks us to accept change without passivity — to act with care and duty while not clinging to what is inevitably changing.
Life Application
- When facing loss or change, remind yourself that change is natural; feel your emotions but avoid being overwhelmed by them.
- Love and care for people and duties fully, but practice letting go of attachment to results and outcomes.
- Build steady habits (prayer, meditation, service) that help you stay calm when life shifts.
Reflection Question
How would I respond differently to loss if I remembered that birth, life, and death are natural stages?