Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:22 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:22 II

 

vaasaamsi jirnaani yathaa vihaaya, navaani grhnaati naro 'paraani

tathaa shareeraani vihaaya jheernaany, anyaani samyaati navaani dehee

 

" Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new ones,

so the embodied soul casting off worn-out bodies and enters into

others that are new. "

 

Comment:

 

As a person does not change with changing of clothes, in the same

way the Atman does not change with the change of the bodies, it

remains the same. It simply means that with the modifications to the

body or death of the body, there is no change or death to Atman.

This is everyone's common experience that we stay while childhood

comes and goes. We stay while youth comes and goes. We stay, while

old age comes and goes. In fact, these stages are passing phases

only, neither there is childhood nor youth nor old age nor death,

only existence remains.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 33 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 22 is as follows;

 

Vaasaamsi = garments

JeerNaani = worn out

Yathaa = as

Vihaaya = having cast off

Navaani = new

GruhNaati = takes

NaraH = man

Aparaani = others

Tathaa = similarly

Shareeraani = bodies

Vihaaya = having cast off

JeerNaani = worn out

Anyaani = others

Samyaati = enters

Navaani = new

Dehee = the embodied one

 

English translation:-

 

As a man casting off worn-out garments, puts on new ones; similarly

the embodied soul, the Aatman, after discarding worn-out physical

bodies, enters into others that are new ones.

 

In Sanskrit language, `GruhNaati' means wears, while `Samyaati' i.e.

`Samyak Yaati' means enters completely without leaving any trace

behind.

 

Before casting off old and worn-out clothes, every human being plans

and procures new clothes. As an example in animal kingdom, even a

snake first develops a new protective skin cover from within its

physical body and then ejects itself from the old dysfunctional skin

cover.

 

The common denominator of the Aatman, the Pure Consciousness enters

a physical body and assumes a state of Conditioned Consciousness

with the specific set of mind and intellect.

 

Every human being consists of three layers in his body namely

causal, subtle and gross. These three layers are enlivened by the

Self, the Aatman i.e. the subset of the superset the Brahman. The

gross layer is what is visible as form and shape of a physical body.

The subtle layer consists of the mind and the intellect which cannot

be seen nor demonstrated. The causal body consists of unfulfilled

desires i.e. Vaasanaas, which are inherent and intrinsic

characteristics of one's personality. These residual unfulfilled

desires are the trigger points for the state of new birth from the

earlier state of demise of the old dysfunctional body, which no

longer serves the ultimate purpose of the fulfillment of those

burning desires.

 

Every Jeevaatman i.e. a living being, the individualized specimen of

Conditioned Consciousness, assumes a new form before disassociating

with the old worn-out physical body. Since there is a finite

beginning and a finite end to the process of individualization, it

is classified as a `Kshara' i.e. perishable one. All such

Jeevaatmaas are slaves to the `Maayaa' or `Prakruti' while `Ishwara'

i.e. the Brahman is eternally Lord of `Maayaa' and in turn Lord of

all the Jeevaatmaas.

 

Please refer to the verse 10 of chapter 9 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta

wherein Lord Krishna has declared, " Under My August Presence,

Supervision and Guidance; Prakruti i.e. Mother Nature gives birth to

all things, both the moving and the non-moving ones. O Arjuna, thus

the world continues to revolve and evolve. This evolutionary process

commences at the cosmic dawn and terminates at the cosmic night.

After a brief period of lull, the process repeats itself and the

cycle continues forever. "

 

Prakruti i.e. Mother Nature derives her power of action due to the

proximity of Ishwara. As an example, in the presence of creative

forces in sunrays, a tree absorbs carbon and releases oxygen, which

is useful to all the living beings on the planet Earth. At the same

time, such action results in the nourishment of the tree itself.

 

In the August Presence, Supervision and Guidance of the Ishwara,

everything in the regime of Prakruti functions as per Divine Plan

and Purpose. Ishwara is therefore the Actionless Almighty.

 

The eternal Brahman does not move from place to place as it pervades

the entire Universe. It is the function of the embodied soul to move

from one abode to another abode. In every birth, the enlivening

principle gathers itself a body, mind and intellect formed out of

the elements in Mother Nature according to the past evolution and

the future needs.

 

When the gross physical body falls away, the vital and mental

sheaths still remain as the vehicle for the soul for its onward

journey. Such a cycle of life and birth continues until all the

desires in an individual are completely exhausted and he attains the

state of Self-realisation.

 

A rich man buys a new car every financial year to claim the benefit

of the depreciation of the vehicle and to enjoy the luxury and

comfort of state-of-the-art product of evolving new technologies. As

far as the rich man is considered, the utility of the vehicle is

over for him. However, the new owner who has purchased the car from

him, finds it to be a `Value for money' proposition. Similarly, no

one can decide whether a given physical body is worn out or not

except its `wearer'. This explains why we should not mourn about

untimely but natural deaths of newly born babies or young ones in

the blossom of their individual life.

 

Please refer verse 8 from chapter 18 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta,

which has a similar meaning to the current verse, wherein Lord

Krishna states, " When the Lord (Ishwara) enters a body and when He

leaves the body, He takes away these (the five senses and mind), and

goes as if the Wind carries the scents from their sources. "

 

In summary, Lord Krishna advices Arjuna, " The idea of the death

grins only at those who have no understanding and that it has no

pain for those who understand its true implications and

functioning. "

 

Thanks and Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi.

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

OTHER SADHAKS

 

-Shree Hari-

 

As Shri Krishna was fully aware of all his previous incarnations.

Also refering to B.G. 11:

There in the body of the God

Of gods the son of Pandu saw

The universe resting in One

With its manifold divisions. (13)

 

I have trouble equating the pasted statement with the above:

 

'...On the contrary, Lord Krishna studied in

details all the Vedas and Upanishads and formulated the

impeccable, immaculate theoretical basis for the eventual epic

battle.....'

 

I just picked out verse 13 for its simply magnificence, the whole of

Chapter 11 is totally inspiring.

 

Also refer to chapter 10:

 

I am the Self abiding in

The heart of all beings; I am

The beginning, the middle, and

Also the end of all beings. (20)

 

I am Vishnu of Adityas;

The Sun among luminaries;

I am Marichi of Maruts;

Among the stars I am the Moon. (21)

 

Of Vedas, the Sama Veda;

I am Indra among the gods;

Of the senses I am the mind;

Intelligence in all beings. (22) .

 

Why would Bhagwan study?

 

With Respect and Divine Love,

 

Mike (Keenor).

--------------------------

Shree Hari Ram Ram

We may (post as separate Topic, depending on the responses)

Ram Ram

-----------------------------

Shree Hari Ram Ram

ALL SADHAKS, If you are aware of good suggestions of Dr. Mohanji,

please email us. Dr. Mohanji, we will compile and send responses in

one posting.

Ram Ram

------------------------------

|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

All Sadhaks can and should contribute as well. Discussion /

clarification is encouraged

 

OTHER REQUESTS FROM SADHAKS -

 

Please feel free to take the lead in any of these areas so that all

sadhaks may benefit.

 

- Introduction to Chapters (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK SANJIVANI)

- Chapter Summary - Principles and Laws emanating from it.(N.B. VYAS)

- Summary of Chapter from Sadhak Sanjivani " AS IS "

- Yes, Epilogue / Important Facts in each verse good to bring out.

- Any subtle thoughts / interpretation (MIKE)

- In-depth explanation of " Om Tat Saditi Srimadbhagavadgitaasu,

Upanishadsu..... " is a very good idea. (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK

SANJIVANI)

 

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram

-----------------------------

 

Shree Hari

Ram Ram

We deeply thank Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to

support this divine work of daily one verse Bhagavad Gita

explanation and Shri Madan Kauraji for the Gita Prabodhani

translation Chapter 1 and 2 and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram