देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा। तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति।।2.13।।
dehinaḥ asmin yathā dehe kaumāram yauvanam jarā tathā dehāntaraprāptiḥ dhīraḥ tatra na muhyati
Translation
Just as the embodied soul passes from childhood to youth to old age in this body, likewise at the moment of death the soul attains another body; the wise are not deluded by this.
Word Meanings
dehinaḥ — of the embodied; asmin — in this; yathā — as; dehe — in the body; kaumāram — boyhood; yauvanam — youth; jarā — old age; tathā — similarly; deha-antara — of transference of the body; prāptiḥ — achievement; dhīraḥ — the sober; tatra — thereupon; na — never; muhyati — is deluded
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Lord Krishna elucidates the principle of the soul’s continuity beyond the physical body. He draws a parallel between the natural progression of a human life—moving from the innocence of childhood (kaumāra) through the vigor of youth (yauvana) to the decline of old age (jarā)—and the soul’s transition from one body to another at death. This analogy dismantles the common misconception that death is an absolute end; instead, it is a mere change of garments for the eternal Atman.
The term ‘dehinaḥ’ (of the embodied) emphasizes that the soul, though cloaked in a material body, remains distinct from it. The body is a temporary vessel, and the soul’s identity does not dissolve with its expiry. Krishna’s reference to ‘dehāntaraprāptiḥ’ (attainment of another body) affirms the doctrine of transmigration (punarjanma), a core tenet of Vedanta, underscoring that the soul’s journey is cyclical until liberation (mokṣa) is achieved.
The qualifier ‘dhīraḥ’ (the wise or the steadfast) is crucial. It indicates that individuals who have cultivated discernment and equanimity understand this process and are not swayed by grief or attachment. Their steadiness (dhṛti) prevents them from being ‘muhyati’ (deluded). This mental clarity is cultivated through yoga, self‑inquiry, and surrender to divine wisdom, enabling one to view life and death with the same impartiality as one views the changing seasons.
Krishna’s teaching also serves a practical purpose for Arjuna, who is tormented by the prospect of killing his kin. By framing death as a natural transition and the soul as immutable, Krishna provides Arjuna with a philosophical shield against emotional turmoil, allowing him to perform his duty (dharma) as a warrior without being entangled in sorrow or guilt.
Ultimately, this verse invites the seeker to internalize the imperishable nature of the self, to develop detachment from the body, and to nurture a steady mind that sees beyond the illusion of death. Such insight paves the way toward liberation, where the soul remains ever‑blissful, unshackled from the cycle of birth and death.
