अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् | 

विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ||

avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam 

vināśam avyayasyāsya na kaścit kartum arhati

Meaning

But know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one can destroy the imperishable soul.

Context

 In the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is distraught at the thought of killing his kinsmen and teachers. Overcome with sorrow and confusion, he is unable to fight. Lord Krishna imparts to him the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, explaining the nature of the soul to help Arjuna overcome his grief and fulfill his duty.

Explanation:

Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna's concern about killing his relatives and friends in the battle of Kurukshetra. Krishna emphasizes the indestructible nature of the soul (ātman). He explains that the soul, which pervades the entire body, is eternal and cannot be destroyed by any means. The body may perish, but the soul remains untouched and unaltered.

This verse highlights the distinction between the physical body and the soul. The body is subject to birth, growth, decay, and death, but the soul transcends these changes. The soul is the essence of life and consciousness, and it pervades every living being.

Krishna's teaching aims to shift Arjuna's perspective from the transient physical reality to the eternal spiritual truth. By understanding the immortal nature of the soul, Arjuna can overcome his grief and fear of death, enabling him to fulfill his duty as a warrior without attachment to the results.

Today's Context

Imagine a young professional, Maya, who recently lost her job due to company downsizing. She feels devastated, questioning her self-worth and future prospects. Maya remembers the teaching of Bhagavad Gita 2.17.

Reflecting on the verse, Maya realizes that her true essence, her soul, remains unaffected by the job loss. Her worth is not defined by her job or external circumstances but by her inner qualities and eternal nature. This understanding gives her the strength to overcome her despair.

She begins to see the job loss as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Maya starts learning new skills and exploring other career options with renewed confidence. She remains calm and composed, knowing that her true self is indestructible and beyond the changes of the material world.

Practical Application:

• Overcoming Setbacks: Understanding the soul's eternal nature helps individuals overcome setbacks and failures by focusing on their intrinsic worth.
• Building Resilience: It fosters resilience, allowing individuals to face challenges with courage and equanimity.
• Inner Peace: Promotes inner peace by reducing anxiety about external changes and uncertainties.
• Purposeful Living: Encourages living a life with purpose and meaning, focusing on spiritual growth and self-realization rather than material achievements.

By internalizing the wisdom of this verse, individuals can navigate through life's ups and downs with a sense of peace, strength, and clarity, staying connected to their true, eternal nature.

Highlights from Traditional Commentaries

Sri Anandgiri's Commentary:

• Soul's Universality and Indestructibility: Anandgiri explains that the soul, being universal, pervades everything and remains indestructible even during cosmic dissolution (pralaya). This highlights the soul's transcendence over physical phenomena.
• Absence of Temporal and Spatial Constraints: The soul is not bound by time or space, making it beyond birth and death. This reflects its eternal, unchanging nature, which cannot be comprehended through ordinary sensory perception or logic.

Sri Dhanpati's Commentary:

• Self-Sufficient Nature of the Soul: Dhanpati emphasizes the soul's independence, asserting that it is inherently imperishable because it does not rely on anything external for its existence. This intrinsic nature makes the soul the ultimate reality, unlike the transient physical world.

Sri Madhavacharya's Commentary:

• Eternality of the Soul: Madhavacharya focuses on the soul's eternal nature, reinforcing that it cannot be destroyed by any means, including divine interventions or curses. This underscores the soul's supreme and unassailable nature.

Sri Neelkanth's Commentary:

• Metaphysical Pervasion and Indivisibility: Neelkanth elaborates on how the soul, as the ultimate substratum, pervades the entire universe in a non-physical manner. This pervasion is akin to how clay pervades all clay objects, emphasizing the soul's immutability and indivisibility.

Sri Ramanuja's Commentary:

• Soul's Imperishability and Subtlety: Ramanuja explains that the soul is subtler than the subtlest and thus cannot be destroyed by any physical means. The soul's subtle nature makes it pervasive and imperishable.

Sri Shankaracharya's Commentary:

• Distinction Between Body and Soul: Shankaracharya highlights the fundamental distinction between the perishable body and the imperishable soul. He stresses that the soul is eternal and unchanging, while the body undergoes birth, growth, decay, and death.

Knowledge Bank

How was Agastya Muni born?

There were two Devas, Mitra and Varuna who were joined together originally. They are different forms of Aditya. Then they got separated. Their sperms were kept in a pot. From that pot came out Agastya and Vasishta after some time (similar to IVF).

Previous birth of Sage Vyasa

We know that Sage Vyasa was an avatara of Mahavishnu. In his previous birth, Vyasa was a Maharshi called Apantara Tamas. The name literally means - inner darkness gone. He came into existence when Mahavishnu uttered one of the vyahritis, Bhuh.