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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Soul & knowledgeChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.132.15

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.14

The eternal soul beyond bodily death

Prakṛti · Material nature

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः ।

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥ १४ ॥

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya

śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ

āgamāpāyino ’nityās

tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

Translation

O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Tolerate Happiness and Distress

  1. 1

    Happiness and distress arise from sense perception and pass like seasons. Learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that we must carry out our prescribed duties despite discomfort, such as heat or cold.

  3. 3

    Following religious rules helps us gain knowledge. Only knowledge and devotion can free us from illusion.

Key points from the purport

Tolerate dualities — One should not abandon religious duties due to bodily inconveniences or transformations because:

Nonpermanent appearance and disappearance of happiness and distress are like appearance and disappearance of summer and winter seasons

They arise from sense perception

Learn to tolerate them without being disturbed

Further reading

Jnana — Fight!

There is no death for the soul. The body can never be saved

Chapter 2, section II: Jnana — Fight!
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mātrā-sparśāḥsensory perception
  2. tuonly
  3. kaunteyaO son of Kuntī
  4. śītawinter
  5. uṣṇasummer
  6. sukhahappiness
  7. duḥkhaand pain
  8. dāḥgiving
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.14 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.11The eternal soul beyond bodily deathBG 2.12The eternal soul beyond bodily deathBG 4.34The humility of real inquiryBG 15.7The living being belongs to Krishna
Live this todaySteady Duty Through Changing SeasonsOne practice from this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction