वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि। तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा- न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही।।2.22।।
vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naraḥ aparāṇi tatha śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāni anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī
Translation
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.
Word Meanings
vāsāṁsi — garments; jīrṇāni — old and worn out; yathā — just as; vihāya — giving up; navāni — new garments; gṛhṇāti — does accept; naraḥ — a man; aparāṇi — others; tathā — in the same way; śarīrāṇi — bodies; vihāya — giving up; jirṇāni — old and useless; anyāni — different; saṁyāti — verily accepts; navāni — new sets; dehī — the embodied.
Understanding the Verse
In this profound analogy, Lord Krishna illustrates the nature of the soul (ātman) using a simple, everyday experience: changing clothes. A man does not mourn the loss of an old, torn garment; he simply discards it and puts on a fresh, clean one. This effortless transition underscores the impermanent nature of the physical body, which, like a piece of clothing, serves a temporary purpose. The soul, being eternal, does not cling to a single form but continuously moves on to a new embodiment when the old one has fulfilled its role.
The verse also emphasizes the principle of detachment (vairāgya). By comparing the body to a garment, the text teaches that attachment to the physical form is misguided. Just as clothing cannot define a person's identity, the body cannot confine the soul's true essence. Understanding this helps aspirants to cultivate equanimity when confronted with death, recognizing it as merely a change of attire rather than an ultimate loss.
Krishna’s teaching aligns with the broader Upanishadic view that the self is beyond the five sheaths (koshas) – annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vijnanamaya, and anandamaya. When the outermost sheath (the body) expires, the soul simply moves inward to the next subtle layer, much like stepping from one garment to another without any disruption to the underlying self. This seamless process reinforces the concept of samsara – the endless cycle of birth and death – driven by karma. Each new body provides an opportunity for the soul to work through karmic residues and progress toward moksha (liberation).
From a practical standpoint, the metaphor encourages a balanced view of material existence. It does not devalue the body or life’s experiences; rather, it urges a wise management of them. By seeing life as a series of roles and the body as a costume, one can perform duties (dharma) with dedication while remaining unattached to outcomes. This attitude is essential for attaining yoga, the union of the individual soul with the Supreme, as it frees the mind from the anxiety of loss and the fear of death.
Finally, this verse offers comfort to those grieving death. It reassures that death is not an annihilation but a natural transition. The soul, eternal and indestructible, simply exchanges an old, exhausted body for a new, appropriate one, just as a man exchanges torn clothes for fresh ones. This perspective transforms fear into acceptance, allowing devotees to focus on spiritual growth rather than being trapped by the illusion of permanence in the physical world.
