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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.17
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ॥ १७ ॥
avināśi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idaṁ tatam
vināśam avyayasyāsya
na kaścit kartum arhati
That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
The soul pervades the whole body and cannot be destroyed by anyone.
Consciousness shows the soul’s presence. Each body has an individual soul, conscious of that body’s pains and pleasures.
The tiny soul rests in the heart with the Supersoul. It is a spiritual spark, a fragmental part of the Supreme Lord.
These notes cover verses 2.17–18
The soul cannot be killed and the body cannot be saved from death. Therefore Arjuna should not refrain from the necessity of war
This implies that the Kauravas cannot escape death even if Arjuna does not kill
Essence of purport — This verse more clearly explains “the nature of the soul”
Symptom of the soul — “Individual consciousness”
This consciousness is spread all over the body e.g. one can experience the pain and pleasures of the body
Each and everybody is the embodiment of an individual soul, one cannot perceive the pains and pleasures of another’s body
Size of the soul — Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad
It is one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of the tip of the hair
This is a spiritual atom smaller than the material atom
This spark is the basic principle of the material body
Ref. Mundaka Upanisad 3.1.9 — Explains the measurement of the atomic spirit soul
Size – The soul is atomic in size and can be perceived by perfect intelligence
Life airs – Atomic soul is floating in five kinds of airs (prana, apana, vyana, samana, udana)
Position – The soul is situated within the heart and spreads its influence all over the body
Opinion of scientists – Because the measurement of the atomic soul is beyond their power of appreciation, they foolishly assert that there is no soul
Purification of soul – When the soul is purified from the contamination of the five kinds of material airs, it’s spiritual influence is exhibited
Influence of soul all over the body
Material body minus consciousness equals a dead body
Two analogies to explain this:
Active principle of medicine spreads all over the body, similarly the current of the spirit soul is felt all over the body as consciousness
Like the sun pervades the entire universe and maintains it, similarly the light of soul maintains the material body
Conclusion – Consciousness is not due to any amount of material combination and cannot be revived by any material administration
‘Vedic science’ vs ‘Modern science’ on the soul — The heart is the seat of all energies of the body
Vedic science
Individual soul is present in the heart along with the Supersoul, and therefore all energies of the body are emanating from the heart
Modern science
It accepts the important of red corpuscles and the heart as the seat of all energies
But it cannot ascertain that the source of energy is the soul
Never mistake atomic soul to be all-pervading Vishnu-tattva
Constitution of atomic soul is admitted in all Vedic literatures and is also felt in the practical experience of any sane man
Only an insane man can think of the atomic soul as all-pervading Vishnu-tattva FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 2.17 continued…
Analogy to compare soul and Supersoul
Such atomic particles of spirit whole are compared to sunshine molecules
The fragmental parts of the Supreme Lord are atomic sparks of the rays of the Supreme Lord, called by the name ‘prabha’ or superior energy
Hatha-yoga and purification of soul
Purpose of Hatha-yoga – This is meant to control the five kinds of life airs:
Not for material benefit
But for liberation of minute soul from the material atmosphere
How this control is practiced – By different sitting postures FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 2.18
Body:
Body is perishable by nature – may perish immediately or after a hundred years
Basis of acquiring material bodies
One acquires body according to one’s work
Practical application: Observance of religious principles should to utilized to elevate because one acquires the body according to one’s work
Soul:
Soul as indestructible – The soul is too minute to be seen by the enemy what to speak of being killed
Soul as immeasurable – It is too small to be measured
How does this verse help Arjuna to overcome lamentation and material compassion
Because the living entity cannot be killed
Nor can the material body be saved for any length of time
The Spirit soul is important, not the body because
As soon as the spirit soul is out of the body, the body begins to decompose
Ref. Vedanta Sutra: Analogy – The living entity is qualified as light, because of being the part and parcel of the Supreme light
Practical application for Arjuna based on this verse:
He is advised to fight
Not sacrifice the cause of religion for material, bodily considerations
There is no death for the soul. The body can never be saved
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 2.17 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?
Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.