Bhagavad Gita, The Song of God - Chapter-2.13: Swami Mukundananda.

Chinmaya Mission:

Swami Abhedananda, accompanied by 60 fortunate devotees from around the world, undertook the sacred Char Dham Yatra from the Ganga's banks at the foot of the heavenly Himalayan peaks. 

Navigating narrow lanes and rocky climbs, enduring long bus rides along steep mountainsides while chanting Hanuman Chalisa, devotees sought divine sights of mystic temples and sacred sangams. 

Completing darshans and pujas at Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath Jyotirlinga, and Badrinath, along with visits to ancient temples and sites, the yatris experienced a journey of a lifetime. 

Blessed with the opportunity to be at Swami Tapovanji Maharaj's Kutir in Uttarkashi, devotees, especially from South Africa, cherished the experience. 

The yatra, marked by landslides and rains, showcased celestial splendor as Swamiji and yatris approached the deities. 

Energized by Swamiji's satsangs, the yatris returned home with gratitude, memories, and a thirst for another yatra. 

Throughout the journey, Swamiji's signature line, "tīrthī kurvanti tīrthāni," resonated, emphasizing the pilgrimage within oneself.

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Thursday, 14 Dec 2023. 07:00.

Chapter 2: Sankhya Yogam

The Yogam of Analytical Knowledge

Slogam-13.

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Slogam-13.

"Dehino ’smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara

tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati."

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dehinah—of the embodied; 

asmin—in this; 

yatha—as; 

dehe—in the body; 

kaumaram—childhood; 

yauvanam—youth; 

jara—old age; 

tatha—similarly; 

deha-antara—another body; 

praptih—achieves; 

dhirah—the wise; 

tatra—thereupon; 

na muhyati—are not deluded.

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Translation:

BG 2.13: 

Just as the embodied soul continuously passes from childhood to youth to old age, similarly, at the time of death, the soul passes into another body. The wise are not deluded by this.

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Commentary:

With immaculate logic, Shree Krishna establishes the principle of transmigration of the soul from lifetime to lifetime. He explains that in one lifetime itself, we change bodies from childhood to youth to maturity and then to old age. In fact, modern science informs us that cells within the body undergo regeneration—old cells die away and new ones take their place. It is estimated that within seven years, practically all the cells of the body change. Further, the molecules within the cells change even more rapidly. With every breath we inhale, oxygen molecules are absorbed into our cells via the metabolic processes, and molecules that were heretofore locked within the cells are released as carbon dioxide. Scientists estimate that in one year’s time, about ninety-eight percent of our bodily molecules change. And yet, despite the continual change of the body, we perceive that we are the same person. That is because we are not the material body, but the spiritual soul seated within.

In this slogam, the word deha means “the body” and dehi means “possessor of the body,” or the soul. Shree Krishna draws Arjun’s attention to the fact that, since the body is constantly changing, in one lifetime itself, the soul passes through many bodies. Similarly, at the time of death, it passes into another body. Actually, what we term as “death” in worldly parlance is merely the soul discarding its old dysfunctional body, and what we call “birth” is the soul taking on a new body elsewhere. This is the principle of reincarnation.

Shree Krishna has previously declared that the wise do not lament. But the fact remains that we do experience happiness and distress. What is the reason for it? He now explains this concept.

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Next

Slogam-14

To be continued

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