Bhagavad Gita, The Song of God - Chapter-2.22: Swami Mukundananda.

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF):

Lord Rama lives in our hearts as the epitome of an ideal man who abides by dharma alone with love for every living thing in His heart. 

He has imparted many life lessons that are relevant even in this contemporary era.

Epitomising love, loyalty, humility and commitment in every gesture, Rama teaches us to carry compassion and courage with equal fervour. 

He did not stray away from the path of righteousness, come what may. 

This is something we all need to follow to lead an enriched life. 

Imparting effective leadership with fairness and concern for His fellow beings, Rama demonstrated immense self-control and benevolence. 

Hail Sri Rama for His persona is a harmonious union of nobility and integrity! 

He teaches us to tackle all challenges in life with resilience and self-belief. 

Let the divine narratives unfold, offering wisdom and inspiration.

================================================================

Monday, 29 Jan 2024. 06:50.

Chapter 2: Sankhya Yogam

The Yogam of Analytical Knowledge

Slogam-22.

================================================================

Slogam-22.

"Vasansi jirnani yatha vihaya

navani grihnati naro ’parani

tatha sharirani vihaya jirnanya

nyani sanyati navani dehi."

===============================================================

vasansi—garments; 

jirnani—worn-out; 

yatha—as; 

vihaya—sheds; 

navani—new; 

grihnati—accepts; 

narah—a person; 

aparani—others; 

tatha—likewise; 

sharirani—bodies; 

vihaya—casting off; 

jirnani—worn-out; 

anyani—other; 

sanyati—enters; 

navani—new; 

dehi—the embodied soul.

================================================================

Translation:

BG 2.22: 

"As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one."

================================================================

Commentary:

Continuing to explain the nature of the soul, Shree Krishna reiterates the concept of rebirth, comparing it to an everyday activity. When garments become torn and useless, we discard them in favor of new ones, but in doing so we do not change ourselves. In the same manner, the soul remains unchanged, when it discards its worn-out body and takes birth in a new body elsewhere.

The Nyaya Darshan gives the following argument to prove the existence of rebirth:

It states that if you observe a little baby, you will find it sometimes becomes happy, sometimes sad, and sometimes fearful, without any apparent reason. According to the Nyāya Darśhan, the little baby is remembering its past life, and hence experiencing these emotions. However, as it grows up, the impressions of the present life are imprinted so strongly upon its mind, that they erase most past memories. Besides, the processes of death and birth are also so painful to the soul that they erase a substantial portion of the past life’s memories.

The Nyaya Darshan gives another argument in support of rebirth:  

It says that a newborn baby has no knowledge of language. How then can a mother teach her baby to suckle her breast when she inserts it in the baby’s mouth? However, the newborn child has drunk milk in infinite past lifetimes, even in animal forms, from the breasts, teats, and udders of innumerable mothers. Hence, when the mother puts her breast in the baby’s mouth, it automatically starts suckling based on past practice.

Without accepting the concept of rebirth, the disparity between human beings becomes inexplicable and irrational. For example, let us suppose one man is blind from birth. If that person asks why he was punished in this way, what logical answer can be given to him? If we say it was a result of his karmas, he may argue that the present life is the only life he has, and therefore, there are no past karmas at the time of birth that should afflict him. If we say it was the will of God, it would also seem implausible, since God is all-merciful and would not unnecessarily want anyone to be blind. The only logical explanation is that the person was born blind as a consequence of karmas from past lives. Thus, from common sense and on the authority of the scriptures we are obliged to believe in the concept of rebirth.

================================================================

To be continued

================================================================