Review of “Knowledge of Self”

Acknowledgements These notes are based on Purna Vidhya, Vedic Heritage Teaching Programme. This material covers pages of “Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita” Part 12, written by: Swamini Pramananda Saraswati and Sri Dhira Chatanya. Some material based on commentaries posted at: Slide deck prepared by: V. “Juggy” Jagannathan.

Instruction team V. “Juggy” Jagannathan Ashutosh Das Subra Natarajan K. Subramani

om for the sake of Arjuna taught by Lord Narayana himself

by Vyasa faithfully collected and reported by the ancient sage in the middle of Mahabharatha

advaita-amrta-varsinim: showering the nectar of nonduality the Goddess astadasa-adhyayinim: of eighteen chapters

O Mother you I repeatedly invoke O Bhagavad Gita bhava-dvesinim: destroyer of the life of becoming

Review of previous class

Verse 16 For the unreal, there is never any being. For the real, there is never non-being. The ultimate truth of both of these is seen by the knowers of truth. * In the unreal there is no duration and in the real there is no cessation; indeed the conclusion between both of these have been analyzed by knowers of the truth. * Source:

Verse 16 - Discussion asat – that which does not exist independently; that which is material; perceived by sense organs; transitory; not permanent sat – that which exists independently; that which is eternal; imperishable;

Verse 16 discussion – Life Lessons Everything you see and perceive in life is temporary. Nothing, but the soul, atman is permanent. Given that, don’t excessively celebrate or give in to sorrow or grief. Endure life stoically and always, do your duty. And, that is the path to ensure self-realization of the soul – moksha/heaven. From a practical standpoint, knowing that everything is temporary, allows one to bear difficult times (we know that it will end some time) and be balanced during good times (knowing that too will end).

Verse 17 * Know that by which this entire body is pervaded, to be indeed indestructible. No one is able to cause the destruction of the imperishable soul. * Source:

Verse 17 Discussion and Life Lessons Underscores the concepts presented earlier: Soul is indestructible – permanent. Body is perishable – impermanent [next verse]. Endure life stoically and always, do your duty. And, that is the path to ensure self-realization of the soul – moksha/heaven.

Verse 18 perishable – only the material body nityasya – eternal in existence uktah – is factually the embodied soul

Verse 18 anasinah - indestructible aprameyasya – and infinite therefore fight – do your duty descendant of Bharata - Arjuna

Verse 18 These bodies of the embodied one (the self), which is not subject to change, indestructible, and not available as an object of knowledge, are said to be subject to end. Therefore, O descendant of Bharatha, fight. * Source: *

Verse 18 Discussion All bodies are subject to end. Atma, that dwells within a body is not subject to destruction. anasinah – indestructible; apremayah – infinite; unknowable Hence, Krishna concludes: No reason to be sad. Things that die, die. Things that are dying, die. Things that remain permanent, remain permanent. Therefore fight (do your duty). What is to be done is to be done. Does anyone know the meaning of “Namaste”? The divinity within me salutes the divinity within you.

Verse 18 Discussion and Life Lessons Underscores the concepts presented earlier: Soul (atma) is indestructible – permanent. Body is perishable – impermanent. Endure life stoically and always, do your duty/dharma [fight in the case of Arjuna], without the desire for any of the results. And, that is the path to ensure self-realization of the soul – moksha/heaven.

Verse 19 anyone who soul thinks is the slayer and anyone who thinks the soul is slain

Verse 19 they both soul does not slaydo not know nor is it slain

Verse 19 * Source:

Verse 19 discussion Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary In this way after establishing the immortality of the soul, Lord Krishna informs Arjuna that for anyone to believe that it is possible for the soul to be slain or anyone believing that they can be responsible for the slaying of the soul, are both in complete ignorance. Not being able to fathom the intrinsic nature of the soul they cannot realize that the soul is never the instigator of any action nor is the soul ever the recipient of any action. * Source:

Verse 19 discussion The references to slaying is contextual only – and refers to ksatriya (warrior’s) dharma. Vedic injunctions actually state: na himsyad bhutani – meaning no creature shall be harmed – a central tenet of Hinduism vegetarianism – and fundamental to Jainism.

Verse 19 Discussion and Life Lessons Underscores the concepts presented earlier: Soul (atma) is indestructible – permanent. Soul just exists – it does not cause any action nor is it the object of any action Gita teachings are aimed at fundamentally removing sorrow and grief in one’s life and replace it with a calmness and bliss. This state can be achieved, teaches Gita, by realizing the temporary nature of body and the permanent nature of soul and focusing on always doing one’s duty and not worrying about the results.