Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse
24

अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च ।
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः
॥२-२४॥
acchedyo ayam adahyo ayam akledyo shoshya eva cha
nityah sarvagatah sthanur achalo ayam sanatanah
॥ 2-24 ॥
Transliteration

In Bhagavad Gita chapter 2
verse 24 Krishna further tells Arjuna that our true inner self... our soul atman, the spirit within was an
independent entity, unmindful of happenings of physical manifest world! Krishna says our soul atman could not be
cut in pieces as human body. It could not be burnt with fire. It is not affected by water meaning could not be
dissolved in water. It also could not be dried meaning with passage of time it does not
wither.
Our soul atman was subtlest of all. It was not subject to changes of physical
manifest world. Krishna further says our soul atman, the spirit within was eternal, pervading all parts of cosmos,
being immutable, unchangeable, perennial, indescribable and unmodifiable... it was the source of all manifest life
in cosmos. Existing from times immemorial (Sanatana, Anadi), this soul atman with passage of
time did not undergo any change (not subject to modifications).
To our senses it was incomprehensible meaning that one could never comprehend a
soul atman by limited power of senses and mind. Human life was transitory but our soul atman, the spirit within was
tangible, formless and unfathomable even by learned sages and saints. We as human beings exist because souls'
atmans exist. The vice versa was not true. No human body had the potential of manifesting a soul atman.
Manifestation to manifestation, body after body... the existence of a soul atman
never ceases to exist! Right from stage of big bang to dissolution of cosmos (termed Pralaya in Hinduism) the
existence of a soul atman could never be disputed. If we still identify human body with our soul atman, we were
ignorant in matters spiritual! Human life fades away with passage of time but our soul atman, the spirit within
does not!
Krishna further says our soul atman, the spirit within was indestructible, indivisible,
primordial... existing from beginning of time! Everything in cosmos fades away with time... but souls atmans do
not! If souls' atmans did not die... there was no reason for Arjuna to grieve even if death of his maternal
grandfather Bhishma Pitamah and guru Dronacharya occurred in the battle of Mahabharata between Kauravas and
Pandavas.
The Explanation:

From a spiritual angle,
Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 verse 24 confirms that our soul atman, the spirit within was the only truth of life!
Everything in cosmos could wither and die excepting our soul atman, the spirit within. As we were primarily a
soul atman, the spirit within and not the manifest physical human form... it becomes our duty to travel path of
our soul atman, the spirit within!
Every soul atman had a goal of life... liberating self from cycle of birth and
death forever at the earliest! Governed by inscrutable laws of karma, by undertaking spiritual journey human beings
on mother earth can reach stage of enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally moksha salvation. Travelling
spiritual path dictated by our soul atman should be our priority, a compulsion in life!
It has rightly been said... our soul atman, the spirit within is the absolute
master and controller of human body and not vice versa! It is not within the capability of human body to manifest a
soul atman, the spirit within! In absence of souls' atmans... the human body was just a collection of flesh and
bones, nothing more! Presence of consciousness within us makes us what we are.
This consciousness within is our soul atman. We are primarily a spirit beyond
comprehension of our five senses and mind. By undertaking spiritual journey, contemplating on teachings contained
in scriptures of Hinduism... we can definitely overpower five senses and mind and negate karma to zero. In absence
of dross impurities within... our soul atman finally gained absolute purity forever.
As the journey of life belonged to our soul atman and not the manifest physical
human form... the teachings of Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna in Mahabharata are directed towards human beings who
desired reaching god in present life. Reaching God in present life simply means us as a soul atman, the spirit
within gaining absolute purity forever! By travelling spiritual path we finally hope to reach our true inner
self... our soul atman, the spirit within!
God Almighty ordained a long journey of 1.1 million manifestations in human form to
liberate self from cycle of birth and death forever. It is only by undertaking spiritual journey we reached god. In
present times none could reach god via path of religion (path of rituals). Our indulgence in teachings contained in
Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads was necessitated to cross ocean of Samsara (worldly life).
By enumerating attributes of soul atman to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 verse
24, lord Krishna points to entire humanity that path of spirituality was long and difficult to travel. Still,
whatever little we could achieve in present life... we must strive to achieve it! As life was governed by
inscrutable laws of karma... the closing balance of present life becomes opening balance for next
manifestation!
In simple words this means at whatever level we leave in present life... our soul
atman would manifest a form in next life at the same level. Our spiritual workings of present life would never be
lost... no matter what! Things ephemeral withered with time but our spiritual achievements are there to stay. When
we were a soul atman, the spirit within... where was the cause for any worry! All spiritual achievements of present
life become available to us in next manifestation.
Arjuna grieving over anticipated death of close relatives and friends in the war of
Mahabharata was meaningless, uncalled for! In this battle of Dharma (righteousness)... as per Lord Krishna Arjuna
was duty-bound to follow his inner instincts to fight the enemy and win the war. When Dharmaraja (Lord Krishna)
himself was charioteer of Arjuna, chances of losing the war were nil! In real life... our charioteer was our soul
atman, the spirit within residing in our heart!
By remaining truthful all throughout life we can hear the sweet small inner voice
of our soul atman that seemed to come from within our heart. This voice of our soul atman always guides us on right
path as did Lord Krishna to Arjuna. Prompted by voice of my soul atman, travelling spiritual path for about 25
years... I finally reached God in 1993 at 37 years of age. This is my last manifestation on mother earth... 8.4
millionth manifestation!
Nowhere to go further... I shall but attain moksha salvation, moment I leave my
mortal frame!
At this stage of life, I can vouch with authority that we must undertake spiritual
journey in present life as best possible. We just could not leave things to chance for next manifestation. Whatever
we could not attempt in present life... how can we assume we shall continue the journey in next manifestation!
There was none to fool than our true inner self... our soul atman, the spirit within! By remaining ignorant... we
were being casual! God Almighty is never reached that way. To reach God in present life, the willpower exhibited by
Swami Vivekananda was necessitated! After death of present body... we do not know what form our soul atman
manifested in next life. It is in our interest that we undertook spiritual journey now.
Commentary by: Vijay
Kumar "Atma Jnani"... The Man who Realized God in 1993 -
query!
Bhagavad Gita Study Circle: a meeting point for people from all
walks of life interested in knowing anything relating to spirituality, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and on a broad
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More on geeta chapter 2 verse 24 - bhagavad gita 2 24 can be found at :
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2
... Vijay Kumar - Sep 10,
2014 |
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