अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम् ।
तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैनं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ २६ ॥
atha chainaṁ nitya-jātaṁ nityaṁ vā manyase mṛitam
tathāpi tvaṁ mahā-bāho naivaṁ śhochitum arhasi
हे महाबाहु अर्जुन! किन्तु यदि तुम आत्मा को जन्म और मृत्यु के शाश्वत चक्र का भाग मानते हो, तो भी तुम्हें निराश नहीं होना चाहिए।
O mighty armed Arjuna! Even if you perceive the soul as subject to the eternal cycle of birth and death, still you should not succumb to despair.
In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 26, Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as "Mahabaho" (the mighty-armed one) and presents a philosophical argument that builds upon his previous teachings about the eternal nature of the soul. In this verse, Krishna shifts his approach, offering Arjuna an alternative perspective to consider.
Krishna tells Arjuna that even if he were to believe that the soul is constantly born and constantly dies—contrary to the spiritual truth of the soul's eternality that Krishna had previously established—Arjuna still should not grieve. This represents Krishna's willingness to meet Arjuna intellectually wherever he may be in his understanding. By addressing him as "Mahabaho," Krishna is subtly reminding Arjuna of his strength and capability as a warrior, suggesting that someone of his stature should be able to comprehend these profound truths.
The verse reads: "अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम् । तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि" (atha chainam nityajatam nityam va manyase mritam, tatha api tvam mahabaho naianam shochitum arhasi). This translates to "O mighty-armed Arjuna, even if you think that the Self is constantly born and dies, you still should not grieve in this way."
Krishna's argument is brilliantly logical. If, contrary to spiritual wisdom, the soul were impermanent and died with the body, then grief would still be irrational. Under such a materialistic worldview, a person would be nothing more than a temporary combination of material elements—earth, water, air, and fire. Just as we don't mourn when an earthen pot breaks or when water flows away in a river, there would be no reason to lament the inevitable dissolution of these material elements when death occurs.
This verse showcases Krishna's comprehensive approach to teaching. He doesn't simply dismiss alternative viewpoints but engages with them directly to demonstrate that, regardless of one's philosophical position, the conclusion remains the same: Arjuna should fulfill his duty as a warrior. Whether one accepts the spiritual truth of the soul's immortality or adopts a materialistic perspective, grief over death is unwarranted, and action according to one's duty is the appropriate response.
What makes this verse particularly significant is how Krishna creates an airtight case that addresses all possible perspectives. If the soul is eternal (as Krishna has already established), then death is merely a transition, not an end, and therefore not worthy of grief. Alternatively, if one believes the soul perishes with the body, then people are simply temporary arrangements of material elements, which also provides no basis for lamentation. In either case, Arjuna's hesitation to fight is shown to be unfounded.
The verse beautifully illustrates how Krishna, as the perfect teacher, presents multiple angles of understanding to help Arjuna overcome his confusion. Rather than imposing a singular viewpoint, Krishna allows Arjuna to consider different perspectives, ultimately guiding him toward clarity of thought and purpose. This approach demonstrates that truth stands firm regardless of the philosophical lens through which it is viewed, and that duty remains constant even when our understanding may vary.
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