Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:24 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:24 II

 

acchedyo 'yam adahyo 'yam, akledyo 'sosya eva ca

nityah sarva-gatah sthanur, acalo 'yam sanatanah

 

" The Self is uncleavable, incombustible and cannot be wetted nor

dried. It is eternal, all pervading, unchanging, immovable and

everlasting. "

 

Comment:

 

The inert matter cannot cause any modification to Atman because the

Atman by its inherent nature is without modifications. The Atman is

all pervading, not bound by the body which passes through 8.4

million types of bodies, then how can It be affected by changing the

body? Which is all pervading cannot be bound what is only at one

place. What is bound cannot be all pervading.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 34 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 24 is as follows;

 

AchchhedyaH = cannot be cut

Ayam = This (the Self, the Aatman)

AdaahyaH = cannot be burnt

Ayam = This (the Self, the Aatman)

AkledyaH = cannot be drenched

AshoShyaH = cannot be dried

Eva = also

Cha = and

NityaH = eternal

SarvagataH = all pervading

SthaaNuH = stable

AchalaH = immovable

Ayam = This (the Self, the Aatman)

SanaatanaH = ancient

 

English translation:-

 

This (the Self, the Aatman) is uncleavable, incombustible. Neither

it can be drenched nor dried. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable,

immovable and ancient.

 

This verse is almost a repetition of the previous verse 23. Lord

Krishna wants to reiterate the fundamental concept of the Aatman to

Arjuna, so that there is no scope left to look back from here

onwards.

 

In order to illustrate further on the basis of modern science and

technology, it is necessary to appreciate the basics of the Space

and Time.

 

Currently, Space is measured in metres and a metre is the length of

the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of

1/299 792 458 of a second. Here the assumption is that, the speed of

light in vacuum is a universal constant. Whereas, Time is measured

in seconds and a second is the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of

the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two

hyperfine levels of the ground state of the Caesium 133 atom i.e. at

rest at a temperature of 0 degree Kelvin.

 

Space is a boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and

events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical

space is often conceived in three linear dimensions of x, y and z co-

ordinates in Euclidean geometry, although modern physicists usually

consider it, alongwith time, to be part of the boundless four-

dimensional continuum known as space-time. In mathematics spaces

with different numbers of dimensions and with different underlying

structures can be examined. The concept of space is considered to be

of fundamental importance to an understanding of the universe

although disagreement continues between philosophers over whether it

is itself an entity, a relationship between entities, or part of a

conceptual framework.

 

Many of the philosophical questions arose in the 17th century,

during the early development of classical mechanics. In Isaac

Newton's view, space was absolute - in the sense that it existed

permanently and independently of whether there were any matter in

the space. Other natural philosophers, notably Gottfried Leibniz

from Germany, thought instead that space was a collection of

relations between objects, given by their distance and direction

from one another. In the 18th century, Immanuel Kant, the famous

German philosopher, described space and time as elements of a

systematic framework which humans use to structure their experience.

 

In the 19th and 20th centuries, mathematicians began to examine non-

Euclidean geometries, in which space can be said to be curved,

rather than flat. According to Albert Einstein's theory of general

relativity, space around gravitational fields deviates from

Euclidean space. Experimental tests of general relativity have

confirmed that non-Euclidean space provides a better model for

explaining the existing laws of mechanics and optics. As an example,

on the surface of a sphere, two parallel lines originating from the

equator ultimately merge on either of the poles; thus in effect they

cease to be parallel lines.

 

On the other hand, Time is a component of a measuring system used to

sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the

intervals between them, and to quantify the linear as well as non-

linear motions of objects. Time has been a major subject of

religion, philosophy, and science, but defining time in a non-

controversial manner applicable to all fields of study has

consistently eluded the greatest scholars. The perceived motions of

the Sun and the Moon around the planet Earth in our solar system

have demonstrated and symbolized time throughout humanity's

existence. The flow of sand in an hourglass can be used to keep

track of elapsed time. It also concretely represents the present as

being between the past and the future.

 

Time is also of significant social importance, having economic value

i.e. `time is money' as well as personal value, due to an awareness

of the limited time in each day and in individual human life spans.

In India we joke, " If time is money, then more time must be more

money. "

 

Now coming back to the verse 24, this verse reiterates the absolute

indestructibility of the Self, which is beyond the concepts of Space

and Time. It is the Self, the enlivening principle that enables the

intellect to conceive Space, Time and Causations.

 

The Self pervades the entire Universe and therefore It is immovable.

It is transcendent and immanent. The Self existed before the

germination of the concepts of Space and Time. Time is the interval

between two experiences. Thus, the concept of time came up when the

first experience came to an abrupt end and the second experience

started. Perhaps that is the reason why we measure time in

`Seconds'. However, the Self existed prior to the very first

experience. Therefore, the Self is not measurable in terms of metres

and seconds.

 

The Self is ancient. It is present today. It will continue to exist

and pervade the entire Universe in the future. All the present known

means, methods and weapons of mass destruction cannot annihilate the

Self.

 

Lord Krishna continues to throw light on the immaculate and infinite

glory of the Aatman in order to dispel the darkness of ignorance

that has caused the current state of utter despondency in Arjuna.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi.

 

Note: A correction in my earlier post. Lord Rama attended Gurukul of

Vishwaamitra and not of Vasishtha.

 

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

 

OTHER SADHAKS

 

Shree Hari

 

|| Ram Ram ||

 

Dear Shrikantji

 

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation for Verse 23.

 

Humbly suggest a minor correction:

 

Item #1:

" The only essential thing in Earth is the fragrance, Lord Kishna

says I am that pure fragrance in Earth (7-9) " replacing, ( " the

earth offers sense of smell and Lord says, I offer sweet smel to

earthl " )

 

Likewise in item #2, the Lord says, " I am the Sapidity in water,

pure water is tasteless, but the power to reveal the taste of things

is really the power of Iswara (Gita 7-8). "

 

Lord Krishna is perhaps implying in Verse 23, that the very essece

in each item (the very nature by which they are recognized as such)

is Him only (Gita:7-9).

 

|| Ram Ram ||

 

Humble regards,

Madan Kaura

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

-Shree Hari-

 

Dear Shrikant Joshi,

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question,(I obviously do

not have a grounding in these ancient traditions).

This reply evoked a thought in my mind, of something I read, and in a

sense experienced, that all knowledge exists, you merely have to

remember it.(By study/instruction).

 

Thanks again.

With Respect and Divine Love,

 

Mike (Keenor)

 

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

|| 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