BHAGAVAD-GITA 2:25

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 2:25

 

avyakto 'yam acintyo 'yam

avikaryo 'yam ucyate

tasmad evam viditvainam

nanusocitum arhasi

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

avyaktah--invisible; ayam--this soul; acintyah--inconceivable;

ayam--this soul; avikaryah--unchangeable; ayam--this soul; ucyate--is

said; tasmat--therefore; evam--like this; viditva--knowing it well;

enam--this soul; na--do not; anusocitum--to lament; arhasi--you

deserve.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable.

Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

 

PURPORT

 

As described previously, the magnitude of the soul is so small for our

material calculation that he cannot be seen even by the most powerful

microscope; therefore, he is invisible. As far as the soul's existence

is concerned, no one can establish his existence experimentally beyond

the proof of sruti, or Vedic wisdom. We have to accept this truth,

because there is no other source of understanding the existence of the

soul, although it is a fact by perception. There are many things we

have to accept solely on grounds of superior authority. No one can

deny the existence of his father, based upon the authority of his

mother. There is no source of understanding the identity of the father

except by the authority of the mother. Similarly, there is no source

of understanding the soul except by studying the Vedas. In other

words, the soul is inconceivable by human experimental knowledge. The

soul is consciousness and conscious--that also is the statement of the

Vedas, and we have to accept that. Unlike the bodily changes, there is

no change in the soul. As eternally unchangeable, the soul remains

atomic in comparison to the infinite Supreme Soul. The Supreme Soul is

infinite, and the atomic soul is infinitesimal. Therefore, the

infinitesimal soul, being unchangeable, can never become equal to the

infinite soul, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This concept is

repeated in the Vedas in different ways just to confirm the stability

of the conception of the soul. Repetition of something is necessary in

order that we understand the matter thoroughly, without error.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.