15.7 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 15, Verse 7

In this profound verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna uncovers a truth that sits at the heart of all spiritual inquiry: our true identity as living beings. He declares that every individual soul—every conscious entity—residing in this world is eternally a fragmental part of Himself, inseparable from the Supreme Source. This is not a fleeting connection, not something born of circumstance or whim; it is an everlasting bond, present regardless of the soul's current condition or awareness. Krishna’s use of the word “sanātanaḥ” underscores this point—our individuality and connection to Him is timeless and cannot be dissolved, even as we traverse lives in this material world.

The verse draws a striking image of the human condition: the soul, inherently divine and whole, finds itself engaged in a strenuous struggle within the material world. This struggle is not with some external enemy but with the very instruments that are meant to serve the soul—the mind and the five senses. Krishna uses the word “karṣati,” meaning to be dragged or tormented, to express how the embodied soul is pulled in numerous directions by the desires, fears, and impulses generated by these senses, with the mind being the sixth and often the most formidable sense. The soul’s energy and attention are constantly dispersed, leading to a sense of fatigue, restlessness, and distraction from its true purpose.

This daily struggle is not just a function of the world outside but, more profoundly, an affair of the inner world. The mind, described as another sense, acts like a clever puppeteer—sometimes keeping the senses under control, sometimes being overpowered by them. Whether it is chasing after pleasures, running from discomfort, building castles of ambition, or sinking into clouds of confusion, the mind plays a pivotal role in keeping the soul entangled in material pursuits. Through this struggle, Krishna gently hints at the real cause of our dissatisfaction: the misidentification with the restless mind and turbulent senses rather than with our divine essence.

Crucially, Krishna is not describing a fallen state without hope. Instead, He is laying out a diagnosis rooted in compassion. The soul, even when bewildered, remains forever His. It is because the soul has forgotten its true identity as Krishna’s part and parcel that it experiences suffering—it is not a punishment, but a symptom of disconnection. No matter how lost or entangled a soul may become, its link to Krishna is never truly broken. This unbreakable bond is both a source of solace and the seed of liberation, reminding us that our real identity is neither the roles we play nor the struggles we undergo, but something much deeper and more luminous.

The individual soul, according to Krishna, is not a temporary illusion or an isolated spark that will someday merge and disappear. Rather, each soul is eternally real, eternally individual, and eternally connected to the Supreme. Even when bound by material nature, the soul carries within it the inherent qualities of Krishna—consciousness, knowledge, and the capacity for joy. The variety of experiences, from joy to sorrow, stem from the interplay of the soul’s consciousness with the ever-shifting landscape of matter, mediated through the senses and mind.

It is vivid to imagine the struggle Krishna describes as that of a person harnessed to six unpredictable horses, each representing a sense, with the mind holding the reins. When the mind is clear and steady, the horses move in harmony, carrying the soul toward its highest purpose. More often, though, the mind is easily distracted or overwhelmed, and the senses drag the soul in different directions—toward pleasure, away from pain, into memory or fantasy, scattering the focus and draining the spirit. The condition of being “dragged” is what every person experiences at some point, whether through desire, anxiety, or confusion, highlighting the universality and timelessness of Krishna’s teaching.

At the same time, this verse assures us that the struggle is not a mark of weakness, nor is it proof of being flawed. Instead, it is the natural consequence of forgetting our eternal connection to the Supreme. The path back is not one of becoming something new, but of remembering something ancient—the original relationship between soul and God. In this light, the spiritual journey is not about acquiring foreign virtues but about uncovering and reclaiming one’s own forgotten heritage: the joy of being Krishna’s eternal fragment, ever individual, ever beloved.

Ultimately, Krishna’s revelation in this verse is both humbling and empowering. Each soul is simultaneously small—a fragment—yet infinitely cherished and eternally tied to the Divine. The struggles of the mind and senses are real but not final. The soul may be bound for a time, but its destiny is unity with Krishna, not dissolution or annihilation, but a joyful reunion in full awareness of its true self. Understanding this, the soul finds both comfort in its present journey and hope for its ultimate freedom.